Jauan Jennings is putting the San Francisco 49ers in a familiar spot. For the third offseason in four years, the Niners are dealing with another contract holdout by one of their wide receivers.
In 2022, it was Deebo Samuel after one of the greatest statistical seasons by a receiver with more than 1,700 yards (1,405 receiving) and 14 offensive touchdowns (eight rushing). Last offseason, Brandon Aiyuk held out after putting up a career-best 1,345 receiving yards and catching seven touchdowns.
Now, Jennings is looking for a new extension after putting up a career-high in every receiving category. And much like the other two, he's making the ultimatum that San Francisco either meets his demands.
Or it can make a trade.
After a productive 2024 season, the market for Jennings is definitely there. Outside of the big numbers, the former Tennessee Volunteer is a big-body receiver who loves to go out and block and can create in space.
But, there are three teams in mind who would make sure to go out of their way to get fifth-year receiver.
New York Jets
After signing Garrett Wilson to a long-term extension, the Jets would be smart to continue capitalizing in the receiver room.
Outside of Wilson, the only returning wideout with at least 500 yards is Allen Lazard. This is despite playing last year with his best quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Lazard is still a ways away from his best year in 2022 when he put up 788 yards and six touchdowns off of 60 catches.
As for the other receivers on the roster, they combined for a total of 48 catches, 540 yards and three touchdowns. Their two biggest producers amongst the group are Tyler Johnson with 26 catches for 291 yards and one touchdown. Josh Reynolds, who was out for much of last season, put up 13 catches for 194 yards and one touchdown.
Jennings would be a huge upgrade at the position and would work well opposite Wilson. Plus with the work in progress that is the Jets quaterback room, it would help whomever New York drafts or signs next year to be the face of its organization.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans made a huge investment with drafting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick last April. But, once you make that choice of having a new No. 1 signal-caller, you want to make sure you get the most out of them. That includes who is blocking for them, who is calling plays for them, and who is catching passes from them.
If traded to the Titans, Jennings would play opposite Calvin Ridley, who caught 64 passes for more than 1,000 yards and four touchdowns. Ridley is still showing the same signs and production he had when he was in Atlanta with the Falcons, however, the rest of the receivers leave a lot more to be desired.
Not a single receiver who is returning posted 100 yards. The Titans' former first-round pick, Treylon Burks, is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered back in October and has yet to prove he was worth the high draft pick in the three years since being drafted.
As for some veteran players, Tyler Lockett was signed in the offseason. Although he still has some production in him as he enters next year turning 33 years old, he posted some of his lowest numbers in his career since 2017. Along with that, he had his worst offensive Pro Football Focus grade of his career at 65.2. Additionally, another signing for the receivers, Van Jefferson, will be on his fourth team since being drafted in 2020. The Titans are still hoping for the production he had in 2021 when he put up 800 yards and six touchdowns on 50 catches.
Jennings would be a great player to have opposite Ridley. And with the potential of Ward's former teammate, wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, the Titans would truly be making the effort in showing Ward they are invested in him.
Las Vegas Raiders
It is the oldest transaction in NFL history: going from the Niners to the Raiders and vice versa.
Outside of providing a history lesson, the Raiders would be foolish not to go after Jennings. They are building an offense that could make some noise in the AFC West. With second-year tight end Brock Bowers and rookei running back Ashton Jeanty, the future of the offense is starting to form. If you pair Jennings with Jakobi Myers, who is coming off of his first 1,000-yard season of his career, then you've got a stew going.
Quarterback Geno Smith is still showing plenty of good football left in him as he turns 35 years old next season. He's coming off of his second 4,000-yard passing season. And one of the reasons why he produced so well in Seattle with the Seahawks was because he had two very productive wideouts in Lockett and the now-Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf for most of his time starting.
Acquiring Jennings would be a slam dunk for the Raiders and would help them out exponentially from where their offense was last season.
Read more from Niner Noise