Will the 49ers be able to retain Jauan Jennings this offseason?
The San Francisco 49ers head into the 2026 offseason with more uncertainty than answers at wide receiver, and Jauan Jennings’ contract situation only adds to the intrigue.
Coming off the most productive season by a San Francisco wideout in 2025, Jennings declined to offer any insight into his future with the team as he prepares to enter free agency for the first time in his NFL career.
A seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jennings spent his rookie year on the practice squad before developing into a reliable, physical presence in the passing game.
Now 28, he faces an unfamiliar stretch of uncertainty as free agency approaches.
The 49ers’ long-term plans at receiver were already unsettled following Brandon Aiyuk’s uneven season, but Jennings’ impending free agency now places even more pressure on the front office.
When asked during locker room cleanout day about a potential return or the possibility of being franchise tagged, Jennings kept his response brief, deferring all contract-related matters to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
While a franchise tag would secure Jennings on a one-year, fully guaranteed deal valued at roughly $28 million, such a move appears unlikely given the cost.
Instead, Jennings is expected to reach the open market, where his recent production should draw significant interest.
Despite dealing with multiple injuries, he finished the 2025 season with 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the 49ers’ wide receiver group in both yards and scoring.
Jennings’ reserved tone may reflect lingering frustration from last offseason, when extension talks failed to produce a long-term agreement.
The sides instead reworked the final year of his deal, allowing Jennings to earn additional incentives, which he ultimately capitalized on with his on-field performance.
Over the past two seasons, he has posted 1,618 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, quietly cementing himself as one of the team’s most dependable offensive weapons.
Despite the business side of the situation, the emotional connection remains evident. Jennings spoke fondly of Santa Clara, describing it as home and a place that shaped his career.
Quarterback Brock Purdy publicly backed his teammate, calling Jennings a “war daddy” and expressing hope that the receiver remains part of the offense moving forward.
With negotiations stalled and no guarantees ahead, Jennings is content letting the process unfold.
Whether his future lies in San Francisco or elsewhere will be determined in the coming weeks, but one thing is clear: his value has never been higher.