During his first press conference from training camp, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed wide receiver Jauan Jennings never officially requested a trade despite wanting a contract extension that'd keep him in the Bay Area beyond 2025.
It seems as if Jennings and the Niners will work something out soon. The receiver fully partook in on-field practices to open up camp, suggesting he'd have nothing to do with a "hold-in," and overtures from general manager John Lynch also hinted at San Francisco wanting to do right by last year's leading wide receiver, too.
But that won't prevent the thought of a pre-Week 1 trade from taking place.
Sure, the 49ers could ultimately move Jennings, especially if what they get in return is worthwhile. Lynch and Co. already showed a willingness to move players earlier this offseason, highlighted by trading away All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in a cash-savings move.
As for Jennings, while a trade seems less likely in light of his affordable cap hit for 2025 ($4.258 million), proposed trades are a little tougher to sell.
But they exist.
49ers linked to 2 hard-to-believe trades involving Jauan Jennings
The folks over at Pro Football Network came up with a series of potential trades that could happen during training camp, and the Niners were involved in two of them, both tied back to Jennings in one way or another.
The first actually involved moving Jennings in a deal to the Las Vegas Raiders, one in which San Francisco would receive Vegas' third-round draft pick in 2026 along with wide receiver Tre Tucker to help alleviate Jennings' loss:
"Jennings’ physical style and blocking are well-suited to the Raiders’ offense, which will likely emphasize the ground attack after drafting Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
Las Vegas is positioned to trade for Jennings thanks to its $48.6 million cap space, which easily absorbs his projected salary and allows room for an extension. A package of a third-round pick and a promising but inconsistent receiver like Tre Tucker feels right for Jennings, considering he’s coming off a strong campaign but hasn’t proven he’s a WR1.
The 49ers would miss Jennings, but their belief in Ricky Pearsall and the offseason addition of Demarcus Robinson could support the case for a deal."
But the 49ers wouldn't stop there, at least assuming their next move would also be reactionary to Jennings' departure.
Whether related or not, the Niners are also linked to a trade with the New England Patriots to reunite with an old friend, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who got his start in the Bay Area as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has spent the last four seasons with the Pats, the last two of which have been beset by injuries.
In that proposal, San Francisco acquires Bourne for a 2026 sixth-round pick:
"Veteran Kendrick Bourne, who began his NFL career in San Francisco, is a reasonable trade target given his familiarity with head coach Kyle Shanahan's system and ability to contribute if needed immediately.
Bourne's future with the Patriots is uncertain, as he totaled just 28 catches for 305 yards and one touchdown over 12 games in 2024 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered midway through the 2023 season. The depth chart was already crowded with DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker.
With the Patriots adding Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams this offseason, Bourne's opportunities in New England could be limited, especially as he approaches his age-30 season."
While adding Bourne sounds like a nice idea, especially if Jennings is gone, one has to remember the 49ers spent considerable effort during the offseason getting both younger and cheaper.
Bourne, who'll soon turn 30 years old, will also cost $6.3 million in a post-trade deal for the Niners, so the financials of executing this don't exactly align with their newfound modus operandi.
Sure, the trades have some surface value. But they're a little too tough to believe.