While this offseason isn’t very inspiring at some of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ positions of need, that is not the case at wide receiver. The draft is very impressive at the position. There will be some interesting wide receivers in free agency as well, including Jauan Jennings.
Jennings is coming off a solid last two years with the San Francisco 49ers. Although he’s not quite as dominant as some of the other options the Steelers might seek, he certainly seems capable of holding down the WR2 role opposite of DK Metcalf. To The 33rd Team’s Sam Monson, Jennings would be an excellent fit in Pittsburgh.
“I feel like Jauan Jennings is just a Pittsburgh type of receiver. You can imagine him getting dirty in the AFC North,” Monson said Thursday on his Check the Mic podcast. “I feel like Jauan Jennings is made for, blocking hard, causing fights in the AFC North.”
A former seventh-round pick, Jennings got off to a quiet start in San Francisco. But on an offense decimated by injuries over the last two years, Jennings got more of an opportunity, and he really took advantage it. His best season to date came in 2024 with 975 receiving yards on 77 receptions and six touchdowns.
Jennings upped his touchdown total to nine in 2025, a career high. However, he finished with just 55 receptions and 643 yards, both a sizeable drop. It is worth mentioning there was some inconsistency at quarterback with Brock Purdy dealing with injuries for a good portion of the season.
Jauan Jennings might not be as expensive as players like Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs, and Mike Evans. But as a cost-effective option who’s capable of holding down a WR2 role, he’s one to keep in mind. Jennings runs his routes consistently, can play through contact, and can both get open and make tough catches over the middle of the field. He would immediately shift some attention away from Metcalf, a big help for him too. From a blocking standpoint, Jennings and Metcalf would be a fun duo.
Even if the Steelers sign Jennings, they’ll need to look for some more speed at the position. Jennings doesn’t have a ton of agility or long speed, and he’s not going to stretch the field vertically. If Pittsburgh could add someone with more explosion alongside a duo of Metcalf and Jennings, that could be a real exciting receiving corps.
Talent will be there in the draft. So the Steelers shouldn’t feel pressed to add to the position in free agency. But if they want a veteran, qualified receiving option who won’t break the bank, Jauan Jennings is a good place to start.
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