According to multiple reports out of the Bay Area, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings is seeking either a new contract or a trade this summer.
Jennings, who is scheduled to make $7.5M this season, is in the final year of his current deal. Sources report that if the 28 year old is unable to come to terms with the 49ers on an extension by the end of next week, he will formally request a trade to another club.
Jennings is coming off a career season in which he posted personal bests in receptions (77), yards (975), and touchdowns (6). He’s also acutely aware of the deal which teammate Brandon Aiyuk just signed which will see him earn an average annual value of $30M for the next 4 seasons.
It’s currently unclear whether the former Tennessee standout would consider holding out of training camp, but reports indicate that he won’t be happy until a new pact is reached.
San Francisco remain believers in Jennings’ skill set, including head coach Kyle Shanahan who consistently praises the wideouts blocking ability when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. That being said, they also believe that last year’s production is also tied to Aiyuk and former wideout Deebo Samuel’s injuries, and want to see it replicated before committing big money and term to Jennings.
Further complicating matters is what role Ricky Pearsall will play in the offence this season with Samuel’s departure for Washington. The 2nd year pass catcher missed the beginning of the 2024 NFL season due to a gun shot wound, but showed flashes of brilliance when he was medically cleared.
Because Jennings has never been a true clear cut starter, it’s difficult to gauge what kind of return he would potentially fetch on the open market if the 49ers front office were to explore a trade. Per Spotrac, San Francisco has roughly $47M in cap space, but also lead the league in dead cap hits with $91.7M in wasted space for 2025. All in all, their total cap allocations currently sit at $331M of the $279.2M cap, meaning that while they might appear to have room at the moment, there remain some complex financial calculations to take into account before handing out any more big money contracts.
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