It's not hard to find trade-speculation pieces out there in the wake of wide receiver Jauan Jennings demanding the San Francisco 49ers trade him if they're unwilling to extend him as he enters a contract year in 2025.
Case in point, Bleacher Report just suggested three potential trade partners with which the Niners could engage. And you're bound to run into similar trade possibilities until some resolution or another is reached.
Except, there's a problem. There's likely no trade to materialize.
San Francisco has been here before. A lot.
While fans may quickly point out how fellow wideout Deebo Samuel's trade request from earlier this offseason was granted -- the 49ers shipping him off to the Washington Commanders not long thereafter -- it's important to recognize the context; the Niners' attempt to trim cash spend while getting both younger and cheaper.
Jennings, who'll cost San Francisco up to $4.26 million in 2025 after recording a career-best 975 yards a season ago, is awfully affordable. He knows it, too, which certainly prompted his request for either an extension or trade.
Precedent, however, suggests general manager John Lynch and the 49ers won't give into any trade demands. Remember these previous trade requests from Niners players?
- Kicker Robbie Gould in 2019
- Running back Raheem Mostert in 2020
- Samuel in 2022
- Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in 2024
In each of those cases, San Francisco opted not to deal the player and eventually reached some sort of contractual agreement. It might not have always been pretty, but deals were finalized.
The 49ers do not have a history of fulfilling trade requests with players who are seeking new contracts. They have worked out new deals. We'll see how it turns out with Jauan Jennings. And we'll see if Jennings, who is under contract, opts to be a "hold-in" during negotiations.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) July 14, 2025
Don't expect 49ers to give into Jauan Jennings' trade request
Jennings has plenty of leverage, yes. He's aware Aiyuk likely won't be ready by Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL and MCL last season. And Jennings knows the proverbial cupboard is both bare and unproven behind second-year pro Ricky Pearsall, thereby almost mandating the 49ers rely on the former Tennessee Volunteer as much as they did a year ago.
But, the Niners have leverage, too. Jennings is fully under contract in 2025, and he could be fined $50,000 per day if he skips training camp. A "hold-in" (physically attending but not participating) is an option, but the fines ultimately equate to one week's pay if the receiver opts not to play in preseason or regular-season games.
While Jennings is wealthy compared to most folks, career earnings of $10.5 million don't equate to the affordability of an in-season holdout.
Sure, disgruntled wide receivers aren't great for a locker room, but that's where San Francisco can play some hardball and look for a reasonable extension (as history suggests) that meets both sides' needs.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t @CoachYac on X), teams have asked the 49ers if Jennings is available via trade, but the Niners aren't interested.
Again, another indication that San Francisco will follow its own precedent and figure out a way to make things work with Jennings while keeping him on the roster.