Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings remains unsigned in free agency. This is a bit of a shock since Niners fans know how solid and valuable a player he can be.
However, one NFL head coach gave a brutal answer on why Jennings has still not found a new team.
Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur of The Athletic went to the NFL league meetings in Arizona recently, and in a recent piece by them, they quote an anonymous NFL head coach who said, "He’s outplayed his talent."
Yikes.
On the one hand, that is a backhanded compliment because it acknowledges the fact Jennings has played well for a seventh-round pick. Not much was expected from him out of college, but he has shown with San Francisco that he is a fantastic run blocker, a proven third-down target, and a feisty competitor above all.
Yet, that coach is basically saying Jennings is not as good as the numbers he's put up, which is harsh.
Many believe Jennings and his camp are asking for too much money. It seems he wants to be paid as a WR1, but no team in the NFL is going to view him that way. He’s a solid No. 2 and a great No. 3 to have on the depth chart, but the only reason he was the top target in San Francisco the last two seasons is because of injuries.
If Brandon Aiyuk remained fully healthy, he would have been the primary target among the San Francisco's wide receivers. Jennings would have still been an important part of the passing attack, and maybe he would’ve even eclipsed Aiyuk if he outplayed him, but he would not have been the top receiver in all likelihood.
It seems like at some point Jennings is going to have to look at the writing on the wall and accept he’s not going to get a huge contract. That is especially the case now since most of the top wide receivers are off the board. Teams now have greater leverage in negotiations.
A reunion with the 49ers is almost certainly not in the cards. The Niners signed Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, so they seem to be set at the position especially if they end up drafting another receiver in the NFL Draft. General manager John Lynch basically said goodbye to Jennings in a recent press conference, so that ship has sailed.
Naturally, one’s eye will turn to head coach Kyle Shanahan’s coaching tree, or Lynch’s GM tree, when thinking of destinations. The Los Angeles Chargers could make sense with Mike McDaniel as the new offensive coordinator. Maybe the Washington Commanders with Adam Peters? The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans could also make sense with DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh there.
No matter what, Jennings was a really good 49er, and wherever he ends up, he is definitely going to bring that fire and energy that made him so fun to watch with San Francisco.