Are you truly a star on the San Francisco 49ers if you don't request a trade? After the organization committed to quarterback Brock Purdy with a huge nine-figure contract this offseason, yet another one of his supporting pieces has been angling for a move out of town.
After years as an impactful, but comparatively seldom-used, chain-mover over the middle, Jennings was able to put up the best numbers of his career after injuries gave him more snaps. Having picked up a good deal of momentum following the best year of his career, Jennings is looking to convert that success into a new payday.
Jennings, who is scheduled to make $7.5 million this season, has demanded that he either receive a new contract or get traded away from San Francisco. This comes just one year after the 49ers extended Jennings' contract. He apparently wants to cash in after a breakout campaign.
One year after the 49ers chose to extend Brandon Aiyuk and set the stage for an eventual Deebo Samuel trade, it now seems like they need to pick between keeping Jennings or giving youngsters like first-round pick Ricky Pearsall an extended role.
49ers WR Jauan Jennings requests either new contract or trade
Coming to the 49ers as a seventh-round pick, the physical 6-3 Jennings had a knack for picking up first downs in critical situations. Despite never topping 500 yards in a season prior to 2025, Jennings earned the "3rd-and-Jauan" nickname for his playmaking when the chips were down.
In 2024, Jennings rode an extended role to 77 catches, 975 yards, and six touchdowns as one of Purdy's top underneath targets. That type of production is worth paying for, but San Francisco has to be wondering where this is coming from, just one year after they showed their commitment to him.
Jennings is projected to be a starter alongside Pearsall and Aiyuk this season, though two recent fourth-round picks in Jacob Cowing and rookie Jordan Watkins could end up taking snaps from someone in that lineup. With Aiyuk the No. 1 target and Pearsall slated for a big workload, those snaps may come from Jennings.
It's not truly a 49ers offseason without multiple ongoing contract squabbles, and Jennings has now thrown his hat into the ring. It seems unlikely that San Francisco will part ways with him, but a trade can't be discounted as a possible future.