The San Francisco 49ers are in a difficult position when it comes to Jauan Jennings and his upcoming contract. Jennings has developed into a reliable starting wide receiver and has earned a raise. The problem is timing. With Jennings set to hit free agency, the open market could drive his price higher than his production might normally justify.
Will the San Francisco 49ers regret paying Jauan Jennings in free agency?
There is legitimate concern about how Jennings’ contract will age. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently listed eight free agents who could end up being overpaid and turn into busts, and Jennings made that list. The reasoning is understandable.
Jennings is a good player. He set a career high this past season with nine touchdown catches. But in five seasons Jennings has topped 75 catches just once. He has never had 1,000 receiving yards. And Jennings has missed multiple games in each of the past three seasons.
Gary Davenport
Jennings’ last two seasons were significantly better than his first three, but his overall production still does not scream “premium wide receiver.” He topped out at 975 yards and followed that up with a nine-touchdown season in which he totaled just 643 yards. That production came while missing two games and battling through several others at less than full strength.
Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
When evaluating that profile, it is difficult to project a massive payday based strictly on numbers. Jennings has been productive, physical, and dependable, but he has not consistently produced at a level that typically commands top-tier receiver money.
On the other hand, the 49ers may not have the luxury of letting him walk. If Jennings departs, San Francisco’s wide receiver room becomes dangerously thin. Alec Pierce is unlikely to leave Indianapolis, and George Pickens has already been tagged, shrinking an already limited free-agent market. Jennings may not be an elite option, but he is one of the few starting-caliber receivers available.
The draft is an option, but that path comes with risk. If the 49ers move on from both Brandon Aiyuk and Jennings, they would need more than just one rookie addition. Rebuilding the position through a single draft pick or bargain signing is not realistic. They would need multiple contributors, and there is no guarantee of immediate impact.
That reality places San Francisco in a near lose-lose situation. Paying Jennings could result in an inflated contract that looks problematic in the final years. Letting him leave could create an even larger issue at wide receiver, one that is harder to solve.
Ultimately, the 49ers must decide whether roster stability outweighs long-term financial risk. Threading that needle will be one of the defining challenges of their offseason.
Read More