The 49ers just slapped former Tennessee WR Jauan Jennings in the face, and it proves they’re taking him for granted
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings will suit up for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, despite not getting the contract extension he was hoping for.Jennings, who is in the final season of the two-year extension he signed in 2024, expressed his desire for a new contract (or a trade) earlier this summer.The former […]
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings will suit up for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, despite not getting the contract extension he was hoping for.
Jennings, who is in the final season of the two-year extension he signed in 2024, expressed his desire for a new contract (or a trade) earlier this summer.
The former Vol missed missed the bulk of training camp and the preseason due to a calf injury and his unsettled contract situation.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday night that while Jennings didn’t receive a contract extension from the 49ers, the former Vol had $3 million worth of incentives added to his contract. Jennings was set to earn $7.5 million in 2025. He’ll now be able to earn up t0 $10.5 million this season.
The 49ers insulted former Tennessee Vols WR Jauan Jennings with this contract resolution
The 49ers never had any intentions of giving Jennings a new contract. In fact, according to The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami, the 49ers threatened to put Jennings on IR or deactivate him for “several games” if he didn’t return to practice (such a move would’ve cost Jennings the chance to hit certain incentives).
“Along the way, the 49ers tacitly or outright threatened to put Jennings on injured reserve (which could’ve wiped away a lot of bonus money) or deactivate him for several games,” wrote Kawakami. “Or they could’ve suspended him if he refused to return to practice after they decided his injury had healed.”
Jennings is being treated by the 49ers like he’s a role player that’s easily replaceable, and I can’t understand why. The former Vol is loved by his teammates, he’s an important part of the 49ers’ culture, and he’s coming off his most productive season in the NFL (Jennings was the 49ers’ top wide receiver last season with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns).
I know Jennings doesn’t put up Ja’Marr Chase-like stats, and I know he doesn’t have the measurables of players like AJ Brown or Justin Jefferson. Jennings, however, is an incredibly impactful player who is an elite run-blocker and chain-mover. Franchises don’t just pay wide receivers for their talent — they pay for effort, a next-play mentality, a team first approach, elite competitiveness, blocking, and, of course, catching the ball.
Jennings does all of those things at a high level. Yet he has to watch while guys around the league like Tee Higgins — who missed 10 games over the last two seasons — receive an extension worth $28.75 million a year.
I’m not saying Jennings deserves that amount — that’s for NFL teams to determine next spring when the former Vol becomes a free agent — but he deserves more than a chance to earn $10.5 million.
Jennings has never received the respect he deserves in the NFL because he doesn’t run a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash. But he’s one of the best players in the NFL (three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Fred Warner said Jennings is one of the best players he’s ever played with). And he certainly deserves to be paid like he’s a key starter, instead of an easily replaceable depth wide receiver.
After the way the 49ers handled this contract saga, I wouldn’t blame Jennings at all for testing the free agency market next spring and refusing to give San Francisco any sort of “discount” — that ship has sailed.
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