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Titans are sure taking their sweet time to sign ex-49ers WR Jauan Jennings

Well, what are you waiting for?
Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy

Niner Noise

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

It was a shock not to see former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings picked up in the opening wave of free agency when the NFL new year kicked off in early March.

Nearly a month later, the big-bodied receiver who produced nicely for the Niners in each of the last two seasons remains unsigned, and it's hard to fathom why there hasn't been much interest in him on the open market.

That said, the Tennessee Titans are one of several logical suitors, given their context and connections back to San Francisco. Ex-49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is there as head coach now, and he got to see Jennings up close last season.

The Titans have a need, too, as Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently pointed out:

Tennessee needs to improve the supporting cast around second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Jennings would be a great perimeter addition.

The Titans added Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency, but he's a slot specialist. Adding Jennings would give Ward the sort of big-bodied possession receiver he currently lacks.

So, what's the delay?

Titans may be waiting until after NFL Draft to sign Jauan Jennings

Free agency waves typically slow down in the weeks ahead of the NFL Draft, which makes sense in light of front offices exploring their options ahead of the draft rather than going after available veterans at a (likely) higher cost.

Tennessee, owning the No. 4 overall pick but not in need of a quarterback, has plenty of options with early picks in Rounds 1 through 6. While a wide receiver might not be the top choice for Saleh and Co., there are likely to be plenty of first-round fallout drifting into Round 2 where the Titans have the third pick in the round.

While Jennings would provide an immediate upgrade, there's a decent chance a just-as-good receiving prospect falls into Saleh's lap early in Rounds 2 or even 3.

Provided Jennings is still looking to command a hefty contract, and there's no reason for him to be impatient just yet, Tennessee would likely explore the possibility of a cost-controlled receiver rather than potentially overbidding for the former Niners wideout's services.

At this point, this pretty much indicates Jennings is a worthy fallback option for the Titans, little more.

Peter Panacy

Peter Panacy

Peter Panacy is a widely published writer, starting with Bleacher Report in 2011 and becoming their 49ers lead columnist, then joining Niner Noise in 2015. He has had exclusive interviews with Hall of Famers Steve Young and Jerry Rice, as well as current players George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk and Richard Sherman. He has also made appearances on multiple radio stations, including the Bay Area's 95.7 The Game and the Bay Area's KNBR 680.