Jauan Jennings could capitalize on a contract year in 2025, and that could make him a commodity the 49ers can't afford a year from now.
The San Francisco 49ers made it clear they weren't going to overspend on player talent, even if it meant bidding farewell to plenty of fan favorites.
No one epitomized this more than now-Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who had been a cornerstone for the Niners since his rookie 2019 season but ultimately ended up costing San Francisco far too much money than it was willing to spend.
As a result, the 49ers shipped Samuel off to Washington for a mere fifth-round draft choice but saved itself from owing the versatile receiver another dime.
On the flip side, one of the Niners' biggest bargains in 2024 was wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who ended up leading his team's wide receiver room with a career-best 975 yards, capitalizing on a newfound chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy.
No longer a mere third-down target, Jennings is poised to do even greater things in 2025, especially with Samuel out of the picture and in light of fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk likely to miss the opening portion of the season as he recovers from last year's torn ACL and MCL.
It's a great opportunity for Jennings, but the net result could put San Francisco in a pinch.
49ers likely have to let Jauan Jennings walk in 2026 free agency
The 49ers' newfound plan of pinching pennies isn't likely to be a one-year goal. No, this is likely to extend into 2026, too, meaning someone like Jennings could swiftly price himself out of the Niners' comfort range.
According to Over the Cap, Jennings' career year in 2024 was valued at $11.8 million, but he counted for just over $2.8 million against the cap that season. That was a total bargain. Entering a contract year, Jennings can earn up to $4.26 million in 2025, which is almost guaranteed to be a bargain, too, assuming he's able to come close to last year's numbers.
Projecting for the future, Spotrac's market value tool suggests Jennings could receive a two-year deal worth an annual average of $10 million, which is certainly affordable for a true WR1 or even WR2.
But, if Jennings finally crests 1,000 receiving yards in 2025, he'll likely command much more than that on the open market.
And San Francisco might be hard-pressed to keep him in uniform, a likelihood it's certainly aware of.
This might explain why the 49ers hope to develop second-year pro Ricky Pearsall while banking on Aiyuk's return to full health.
However, watching Jennings depart is a strong possibility that'll be hard to see.