If the San Francisco 49ers had any intent of re-signing wide receiver Jauan Jennings this offseason, they wouldn’t have brought in two established veterans via free agency, Christian Kirk and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans.
But they did. And the door on Jennings is all but closed now because of that.
Originally, it was thought Jennings would be a hot commodity on the free-agent market, likely one of those players whose name gets called in the two-day negotiation window prior to the start of the league new year.
The fact he remains unsigned is provocative, especially after the two best seasons of his career and proving to be a stable component of the Niners offense. Plus, there’s no shortage of teams that’d love his aggressive blocking and ability to get underneath opponents’ skin.
However, with the first wave of free agency now in the books, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a mini-market open up to secure his services in the very near future — setting the stage for a fierce three-team bidding war that could finally close the book on Jennings’ time in San Francisco.
And these three teams should be calling right away.
Tennessee Titans Robert Saleh certainly appreciated Jennings during his two stints as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, and now as the Tennessee Titans’ first-year head coach, Saleh’s job is to find proven weapons for his young quarterback, Cam Ward.
With a league-most $63-plus million in cap space, Tennessee can outbid any other competitor for Jennings no matter what, and it wouldn’t even cut into long-term cap issues.
Jennings helped make a name for the 49ers’ own signal-caller, Brock Purdy, and now he can look to be a perfect safety valve for Ward.
Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, too, had to appreciate Jennings’ ability to block on the perimeter back when the former was serving on head coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff.
Within an uber-competitive AFC West (aside from the Las Vegas Raiders, of course), it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Bolts look at someone like Jennings to beef up their offensive weaponry to support quarterback Justin Herbert after seemingly phasing out aging veteran Keenan Allen.
That’s why NFL.com’s Nick Shook circled L.A. as a best-fit destination:
“His importance increased over his final two seasons in San Francisco, and I’d love to see him join a corps that also includes Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, if for no reason other than I believe Justin Herbert would maximize Jennings’ potential at this stage in his career. The Chargers can always use another proven pass catcher and Jennings is that.”
Kansas City Chiefs If Los Angeles is interested in Jennings, then the Kansas City Chiefs would have to be, too, if for no other reason than to keep the receiver from landing with an up-and-coming division rival.
There’s a growing buzz about K.C. potentially pursuing Jennings more aggressively in light of his diminished free-agent value and the fact head coach Andy Reid’s team is shorthanded at receiver. While Jennings isn’t known for being the catch-and-run player Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes used to turn into superstars, there’s no doubt the Niners’ former go-to would be a great possession target for Mahomes’ playmaking style.
Of course, San Francisco fans would hate the thought of Jennings suiting up for a squad that beat their team twice in the Super Bowl in recent years.
As for Jennings, though, he’d be happy to land with a perennial contender once again.
The analytics are clear: the 49ers have moved on, and the market has spoken. What once looked like a quiet free-agency slide for a reliable veteran has suddenly turned into a high-stakes, three-front battle that could reshape three different offenses — and leave San Francisco fans watching their former star thrive somewhere else.
