Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers could be a Cleveland Browns target
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Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers could be a Cleveland Browns target
While it’s the quarterback position that takes the brunt of the blame for the Cleveland Browns‘ historically bad offense in 2025 (and 2024 was not much better), any consistent observer of the team knows that the QBs did not deserve all the blame for what went wrong. The offensive line was a mess, undermanned when healthy but rarely healthy. And the wide receivers were utterly inept–star Jerry Jeudy had a brutal year, and the rest of the crew was nondescript, totaling just 117 catches on the season.
The Browns entered the offseason determined to fix the offensive line, which was pocked with free agents and badly needed new starters. Cleveland got three of them. But in focusing on the line, the Browns did practically nothing for the receiver room–they signed special-teams backup Tylan Wallace from the Ravens.
But though the focus has now shifted to the draft, it is worth noting that NFL free agency is still ongoing–it’s just on a sort-of pause, until we see how the draft plays out. And there is still one prominent receiver on the board who could loom large for the Browns: Jauan Jennings of the 49ers.
Browns Not Done With NFL Free Agency
Jennings came into free agency with some high aspirations after two good seasons with the 49ers, following the departure of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. He is a very reliable route-runner with good hands, though not exactly the kind of outside speed burner who would be a real WR1–he had 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games last year. He is the best remaining receiver on the market.
Still, it’s possible the Browns could get a bargain. They certainly will be on the hunt in free agency after the draft, as Zac Jackson of The Athletic said on “The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show” this week.
“I think the Browns definitely will be involved in free agency after the draft and into June,” he said. “I think their prior moves showed that—they were focused on the offensive line. They made a trade, they signed two guys in the first two days, and everything else has been bit players. They have the worst receiver corps in the history of mankind and in the third week of free agency, they sign Tylan Wallace, who’s a backup punt returner, 22 catches in his career.”
Jauan Jennings Wants Too Much Money
But could Jennings be in the Browns’ sights? It’s possible. He is said to be seeking $20 million per year, and he is certainly not going to get a deal like that at this point in the offseason. PFF projects him warranting a three-year, $50 million with probably about half guaranteed. That would be feasible for the Browns.
Jackson said it’s at least a possibility for the team, especially if Jennings takes less money.
“Anybody who’s out there has a circumstance. Sometimes it’s injury, sometimes it’s just knowing they want to wait because they’re an older player,” he said. “In the case of Jauan Jennings, he just wants more money than anyone is willing to give him at this point. Obviously, there is a lot of talk about Carnell Tate here, there’s not a No. 1 wide receiver in this draft that teams are after, it’s kind of a deeper class.
“So if a team feels that it’s left out, and wants to shape its offense—Jauan Jennings will play and he will get almost the money he wants, he just did not get it then.”