If San Francisco 49ers want a no-nonsense take on all the goings on with their team, they'll look no further than their former cornerback, Richard Sherman.
So, when it comes to dissecting what the Niners should do about their latest conundrum, a contractual standoff and trade request with wide receiver Jauan Jennings, it's perfectly reasonable to see what "Uncle Sherm" had to say.
Frequently siding with players when it comes to faceoffs between such players and their employing teams, it's probably not a surprise to see Sherman taking Jennings' side on the matter.
"Jauan deserves what he deserves," Sherman told NFL cornerback Darius Slay on the Richard Sherman Podcast. "He had almost 1,000 yards last year. Seventy-seven catches—just did a great job. Does a great job separating, doing all the dirty work—run blocking, pass blocking. Whatever needs to be done, he's willing to do."
Point made. Those are the reasons why Jennings emerged as a selfless household name among San Francisco fans, and one can't overlook how the big-bodied wide receiver could have been Super Bowl MVP, had the 49ers won that otherwise painful game back in February of 2024.
Yet Sherman pointed out an element that might have caught Jennings' attention, specifically how the Niners gave into contractual demands to their previous two well-established wideouts, Deebo Samuel in 2022 and Brandon Aiyuk in 2024.
"When you continue to have guys do that, and have success, and get what they're asking for, it's going to embolden other guys to be like, 'Well, if it worked for them, I might as well try my luck,'" Sherman continued.
It's a fair point. Jennings likely understands he'll soon see a diminished role again as 2025 rolls on, particularly with Aiyuk's pending return from last year's ACL and MCL's tears, along with the maturation of second-year pro Ricky Pearsall. That's likely why Jennings is asking for his payout now instead of waiting to see what happens when he's scheduled to hit free agency in 2026.
Fortunately, Sherman also recognized how San Francisco will want to avoid a drawn-out distraction heading into the regular season and work towards figuring something out.
Hat tip to David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone for the find and transcription.