The San Francisco 49ers have a new deal with a wide receiver, but it’s not Brandon Aiyuk.
The 49ers announced Wednesday that they have signed Jauan Jennings to an extension to his rookie contract through the 2025 season. According to multiple reports, the deal is worth $10.5 million guaranteed over the next two seasons and has a maximum value of $15.4 million.
Jennings entered the offseason as a restricted free agent. He made about $2.7 million in his first three NFL seasons after being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 Draft out of Tennessee. He was waived as a rookie and signed to the practice squad, but returned to the active roster in 2021 and has remained active ever since.
Jennings has postponed voluntary OTAs without a deal in place. He back to team activities Wednesday with his new deal secured.
Assuming Aiyuk and the 49ers reach a deal, Jennings will slot in as San Francisco’s third wide receiver option behind Deebo Samuel and Aiyuk. In three seasons, Jennings has 78 catches for 963 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season he posted 19 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown in 13 games.
Jennings was on pace to be a Super Bowl MVP candidate had the 49ers prevailed against the Kansas City Chiefs in February. He was involved in both of San Francisco’s touchdowns in the game. He threw a second-quarter touchdown to Christian McCaffrey, giving the 49ers a 10-0 lead. He then caught a fourth-quarter touchdown from Brock Purdy, putting the 49ers back in front, 16-13.
The Chiefs rallied from there to score 25-22. For the game, Jennings had four catches for 42 yards and the score in addition to his 21-yard touchdown pass.
San Francisco’s top offseason priority remains Aiyuk, who is sitting out OTAs while reportedly looking for a deal that would eclipse Amon-Ra St. Brown’s four-year, $120 million extension with the Detroit Lions. He is owed $14.1 million on a fifth-year option on his rookie contract that the 49ers exercised, but is skipping OTAs in search of long-term contract security.
