Jauan Jennings dropped a bombshell that nobody saw coming. The San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver issued an ultimatum to the franchise, demanding either a new contract or a trade ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
His timing couldn’t be worse for a team already dealing with a depleted receiver room, but one analyst thinks San Francisco will call his bluff and ship him out anyway.
Why Would the 49ers Trade Jennings Despite Their Receiver Issues?
Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL, and Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders earlier this offseason, leaving the 49ers thin at wide receiver.
Despite these roster concerns, PFSN’s Jacob Infante recently released his bold predictions for training camp and believes the 49ers will trade Jennings, even though the receiver has claimed he will attend training camp.
“Amidst rumors that Jauan Jennings wants a new contract before his current deal expires in 2026, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a tight spot,” Infante wrote.
“They have the likes of Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, and Fred Warner on massive long-term deals. They could find themselves fielding trade offers if they aren’t willing to pay Jennings what he wants.”
The financial reality is stark. The Niners recently signed Purdy to a five-year $265 million contract, while Bosa and Aiyuk were handed five-year, $170 million and four-year, $120 million extensions last offseason. Warner also received a three-year, $63 million extension this offseason, making the possibility of handing out another big contract unlikely.
Jennings, 28, is entering the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension signed last offseason. He is set to earn $7.5 million this season, but believes he has outperformed his current deal and deserves a raise. His case has merit after a career year that saw him finish with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns.
A career day for JJ. Watch all 11 Jauan Jennings catches from his 175-yard, 3-TD game.
Next up, #NEvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/rtCd7cdfJH
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 23, 2024
While he might get a bigger raise next offseason if he performs like he did in 2024, nothing is certain about the future, and Jennings believes this is his best opportunity to secure the bag.
The 49ers have the required cap space to make a good offer to the receiver, but if he demands to be paid like a top-paid receiver, that’s unlikely to happen with just one good season on his resume, and could eventually see him playing elsewhere in 2025-26.
Where Could Jennings Land if San Francisco Trades Him?
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, multiple teams have contacted the 49ers regarding Jennings’ availability, and some of the top potential landing spots for the receiver include the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New York Jets.
The Jets lack a reliable receiving threat beyond Garrett Wilson, and Jennings’ physicality and run-blocking ability would fit well in their offensive scheme, which is now led by coordinator Tanner Engstrand, formerly of the Detroit Lions. His skill set aligns perfectly with the Jets’ needs from their receiving corps.
Meanwhile, the Raiders’ receiver room comprises Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont’e Thornton Jr., and rookie Jack Bech. Beyond Meyers, no one is a guaranteed starter, making it perfect for Jennings to come in and play as a proven WR2.
The Steelers traded George Pickens and Diontae Johnson this offseason and lack a reliable pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers beyond DK Metcalf. Rodgers is in his final NFL season, and if the Steelers want to maximize their chances of a Championship run, adding Jennings makes perfect sense.
