There's no doubt about it: San Francisco 49ers fans are chomping at the bit for a big trade splash.
Whether you think San Francisco needs help in the pass rush, or extra players at wide receiver, you can't help but be caught up in the maelstrom of trade chatter, even if it seems to still be weeks away from reaching an actual conclusion.
But here's one thing I'm already sick of: The idea of reunions with former Niners.
Listen, I get Deebo Samuel's reunion worked. And I wasn't sure it would, albeit I wrote that before the 49ers reinforced the position with younger talent as well as their veteran gamechanger in Mike Evans. I'm absolutely willing to say I was wrong on that one (and glad about it, because I love Deebo).
But come on, guys. You can go to the well once too many times. It's maddening enough hearing DeForest Buckner's name come up every single year when trade rumours begin. Come on, Faithful, move on; he was moved on long before this era of the 49ers even began, and there's never been any reason why the Indianapolis Colts would trade him anyway, sans a complete fire sale.
The same thing happened with the Denver Broncos' D.J. Jones and Dre Greenlaw last year, albeit Greenlaw did return to San Francisco last offseason. Why that would've had any basis in reality when Denver was contending for the AFC, I'm not sure, but it didn't stop thousands of litres of ink and gigabytes of bandwidth being wasted on the possibility.
I suppose the least you can say is that all three still fit (or fitted) what the 49ers are doing. They were obvious scheme fits or great leaders who could help the team get better. While they still didn't have any basis in reality, they were at least understandable wishes.
Which is what makes the current hot rumor—the idea of reuniting with now-Minnesota Viking, Jauan Jennings—all the more bizarre.
It's time to fully let go of Jauan Jennings' tenure with 49ers
Look, I like Jennings. I might even go as far as to say I love him as a player. His gritty style and ability to make clutch catches were a surefire way to make him a fan favorite, and I go right along with that.
But for a few bounces of the ball, I might even be talking about a Super Bowl MVP.
But that was 2023. It's 2026 now.
Jennings has very little to offer this Niners squad. He sulked and pouted for money on his way out, didn't get it (from anyone) and took a cheap one-year deal with the Vikings because that seemed to be all he had open to him. Even if I set my annoyance with that aside, what part of Jennings' skill set improves Brock Purdy's options (besides his health)?
Jennings is a player who blocks well, but as a receiver, he largely makes gritty, over-the-middle catches and keeps the chains moving on third downs. Even he can still do that, and his lack of production with the Vikings is notable, the 49ers have more than a few players who already do that: Evans, George Kittle, Deebo... when healthy.
It's just not a game-changing move in any way.
I know I've gone in a little hard on Jennings, and I suppose his lack of production in Minnesota (two catches for 9 yards) isn't necessarily all on him. But my point is the 49ers should dream bigger. Gritty players who struggle for separation aren't the type of receivers the Niners struggle to find. Indeed, the offense's weaknesses against the likes of the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs in past years have been down to the inability to beat man coverage and separate from suffocating defense, not from a lack of force.
The 49ers should be looking for a Ricky Pearsall-type player: a speedy weapon who works well in the intermediate and deep parts of the field, and can break with anticipation for the ball. Someone who can beat those coverages. I've seen DeMario Douglas mentioned in some quarters, and that seems like a much more sensible target.
It's that kind of Emmanuel Sanders-type move that adds something to an offense when you may be in Super Bowl contention. Not looking backwards and reverting to pieces of an offense that already didn't have enough to get it done.
Thankfully, we can pretty much be sure that John Lynch pays no truck to the noise on social media or elsewhere. He's rarely made the popular move, but often makes the right one. Keion White, Charles Omenihu, and Jordan Willis, for instance, were hardly popular household names when the 49ers traded for them. But all were (and in White's case, are) productive members of the roster who made an impact. Ironically, one of his biggest-name trade deadline deals, Chase Young, fell completely flat.
So there you go, John. Don't listen to the noise. Don't be comforted by the soft song of nostalgia. Go get a difference maker.
Just make sure it's not one we've all seen before.
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