San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings is set to earn $7.5 million in the final year of his current contract and is seeking either a new deal or a trade, according to sources who spoke to ESPN on Monday. This is the second consecutive summer where the 49ers face situations with receivers wanting new contracts or trades, with this year’s case somewhat connected to last year’s situation involving Brandon Aiyuk.
Jennings has made his request known to the 49ers, but talks have made little headway. If no new contract is agreed upon before the start of training camp next week, Jennings will likely need to be traded to a team willing to meet his salary demands. For 2025, Jennings is projected to count $42.58 million against the cap, covering the final year of his two-year contract extension signed last offseason.
While Jennings is not expected to hold out from training camp, sources say he won’t be pleased with the current state of negotiations, similar to what the 49ers experienced with Aiyuk last summer. Aiyuk, who is recovering from a torn ACL, is scheduled to earn nearly $25 million this season under the extension he signed in August.
The 49ers extended Jennings through 2025 last year and believe they have treated him fairly, according to sources. Last season, Jennings had a breakout year, setting career highs with 77 receptions, 975 yards, and six touchdowns. He ranked 10th in yards per route run (2.51) with only one dropped pass, and head coach Kyle Shanahan praises him as one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league.
Jennings’ approach mirrors that of tight end Jonnu Smith with the Miami Dolphins this summer, who sought a new contract and requested a trade when the team didn’t meet his demands, eventually landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fan Take: This situation highlights the growing trend of NFL players pushing for contract renegotiations or trades when they feel undervalued, emphasizing the business side of football. For fans, it underscores how player-team dynamics are evolving and could lead to more offseason drama shaping team rosters and competitiveness.
