Wide receiver Jauan Jennings either wants the San Francisco 49ers to extend him or trade him.
Understandable, considering he was the Niners' leading wideout a season ago with career-best numbers and had multiple games in which he played at a near-Hall of Fame level.
As news of Jennings' request broke, via ESPN's Adam Schefter, San Francisco is just now preparing for training camp and then the preseason. In the wake of a tumultuous offseason, which also saw fellow receiver Deebo Samuel traded off to the Washington Commanders, the 49ers were already anticpating Jennings playing a vital role yet again.
49ers WR Jauan Jennings, who is scheduled to make $7.5 million this season in the final year of his deal, wants a new contract or a trade, per sources.
49ers extended Jennings’ deal last year, but that does not change how Jennings feels about this year. pic.twitter.com/5pWBOBjSPl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 14, 2025
Especially with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk still on the mend from last year's ACL and MCL tears.
Jennings is wholly underpaid for the role he performs, and $7.5 million in 2025 is a comparative bargain. Yet the Niners are sorely thin at receiver if he's no longer in the picture, especially with Aiyuk likely not available for the first few weeks of the season. Second-year pro Ricky Pearsall and potentially suspended Demarcus Robinson would likely headline the receiver room if Jennings is a no-go.
It would have been one thing if San Francisco knew this months ago, particularly before the start of the NFL Draft.
Finding out now isn't exactly ideal.
49ers left with challenging options after Jauan Jennings news
True, there's an outside chance Aiyuk is cleared before the regular season. Even then, though, he'll have to get up to full speed and might not be pressed into service anyway.
So, in that regard, the Niners can either extend Jennings and pay him market value, which could be in the range of anywhere from $10 million to $15 million per season. Or they can seek out a trade partner and try getting fair market value in exchange, which might be difficult at this point of the offseason just before camp.
While San Francisco extended key stars earlier this offseason -- quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner -- it might not be wholly sold on Jennings as a cornerstone piece.
There's another option, of course. The 49ers could hold their ground and not relent, leaving Jennings to play out the balance of his contract year or fine him if he opts to not show for camp and/or the preseason.
Having a disgruntled wideout on the roster isn't great either, but perhaps they bank on him being motivated enough to try cashing in on a contract year.
Either way, it's less than ideal for the Niners at this point during the offseason.
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