Jauan Jennings extension can make future decisions a little less painful for San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have resolved one of their two offseason contract issues at the wide receiver position. Though there has been no sign of any progress in negotiations with Brandon Aiyuk, who is in search of a long-term extension and reportedly wants over $28 million a year, the 49ers have come to terms with […]
The San Francisco 49ers have resolved one of their two offseason contract issues at the wide receiver position.
Though there has been no sign of any progress in negotiations with Brandon Aiyuk, who is in search of a long-term extension and reportedly wants over $28 million a year, the 49ers have come to terms with Jauan Jennings on a new two-year deal.
Like Aiyuk, Jennings had been absent from OTAs last week, having refused to sign his second-round restricted free agent tender. However, he returned to the facility for practice on Wednesday, with ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting he and the 49ers have agreed to a deal worth up to $15.4 million with $10.5 million guaranteed.
Had Jennings signed his tender, he would have been paid a base salary of $4.89 million. However, San Francisco general manager John Lynch had been open about the 49ers' desire to sign Jennings to a longer-term contract, and they have now achieved that aim.
With his contract essentially akin to signing a one-year extension, Jennings is now signed through the 2025 season.
Jennings has served as an important role player in the 49ers' wide receiver room in each of the last three seasons, consistently coming through in clutch moments and especially on third down while providing significant upside in the blocking game.
But last season's playoffs indicated he could be deserving of more consistent opportunities to make an impact as a receiver for the Niners.
He had five catches for 61 yards in the 49ers' Divisional round win over the Green Bay Packers. After a quieter performance in the NFC Championship Game, Jennings played a starring role in the 49ers' Super Bowl 58 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jennings threw for a touchdown and also scored a receiving touchdown that put the 49ers ahead in the fourth quarter.
He makes his return to 49ers practices with several new teammates in the wide receiver room. San Francisco drafted Ricky Pearsall 31st overall in the first round of this year's draft and then took speedster Jacob Cowing in the fourth round.
Jennings will therefore have even more competition for targets in 2024, but the 49ers have shown how much they value him with his new deal, which further ensures San Francisco will still have significant depth at wideout in 2025 even if the Niners have to part ways with Deebo Samuel in an offseason that will likely see quarterback Brock Purdy receive a lucrative extension.
Though Samuel is obviously a very different player to Jennings, retaining the former Tennessee Volunteer means Purdy will have at least two wide receivers on whom he knows he can rely regardless of what happens with Samuel.
The new contract for Jennings sets the stage for what should be a compelling battle for the third wide receiver spot with Pearsall. Given the path he has taken in his career in going from draft afterthought to a main character in the Super Bowl, it's difficult to bet against Jennings winning that competition.
Three players the NFL forgot about have surprisingly high chance to crack the 49ers’ roster
They’re in with a shot.
