With injuries and lack of production elsewhere, San Francisco wide receiver Jauan Jennings morphed into one of the top targets for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in 2024.
In the Tennessee alum’s fourth NFL season, Jennings topped all 49ers receivers in targets, catches, yardage and touchdowns.
As a result, Jennings was recognized by Pro Football Focus as the 49ers’ most improved player.
The former seventh-round pick had a career year in the wake of injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, catching 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns, setting career highs across the board.
Jennings was known more for his blocking abilities up until this season, but he was Brock Purdy’s most favorable target, earning 113 targets in 15 games, while his 83.1 grade was 13th among all receivers in the NFL. He also became one of the best receivers at winning contested catches, as only Terry McLaurin and Drake London had more contested catches than Jennings 20 in the regular season. – Thomas Valentine, Pro Football Focus.
Jennings inked a two-year, $15.4 million contract ahead of last season that ensures he will be back with the franchise in 2025.
Jennings’ breakout is encouraging in the immediate as the 49ers turn the page toward next season. It gives the franchise confidence that it will have a wealth of offensive weapons on hand at receiver once Brandon Aiyuk is back fully healthy from his torn ACL.
But, Jennings’ emergence this past season may also create some questions for the franchise as well. Does San Francisco want to pay Jennings as its No. 2 receiver? Can it afford to pay Jennings?
The 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million extension last August that ties him to the franchise through the 2028 season.
Star tight end George Kittle is entering the final year of his current contract after tallying another 1,000-yard receiving season. That type of production has to motivate the 49ers to work toward an extension with Kittle.
And, of course, there’s the potential Purdy extension that looms over everything with San Francisco. Assuming that deals for both get done, that’s a lot of money that might get tied up just in those three players.
Elsewhere at receiver, Deebo Samuel has been a star for San Francisco over the course of his time in the bay, but he’s coming off a disappointing 2024 season and entering the final year of his current contract with the 49ers.
49ers general manager John Lynch indicated that the franchise intends to keep Samuel heading into the 2025 season, but is that indeed the plan? And, if it is, what happens if and when Samuel returns to form?
Would San Francisco think about re-signing Samuel and letting Jennings walk?
The 49ers also just selected Ricky Pearsall out of Florida with its first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The former Gator started to come on late last season, tallying 210 receiving yards, 14 grabs and a pair of touchdowns in the 49ers’ final two games of 2024.
Pearsall finished with 31 receptions, 400 receiving yards and three scores during his rookie campaign. If Pearsall continues to ascend, the franchise could opt to spend less at receiver outside of Aiyuk with Pearsall still on his rookie contract entering 2026.
After the season that Jennings just enjoyed, other franchises’ eyes have to have certainly lit up. In the meantime, it’s a positive problem for San Francisco to have.
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