Seventh-round draft picks are easy to overlook. They rarely make an impact in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, a seventh-round draft pick in 2020, didn't even play during his rookie season. He got on the field in 2021, though, and made an impression during the 49ers' late-season playoff push.
Jennings caught 16 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns during the 49ers final five regular-season games, including a six-catch, 94-yard, two-touchdown performance in the team's playoff-clinching Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
One 49ers teammate believes Jennings will be a problem for NFL defenses for years to come.
"A problem. A problem," linebacker Fred Warner told cornerback Richard Sherman on The Richard Sherman Podcast. "I love Jauan. I've said it to numerous people. I'll say it to anyone. He is one of the best football players on our team, and it showed in the biggest moments, the biggest games, when we needed guys to make plays.
"I think there was a stat somewhere where most of his catches were for a first down or a touchdown."
Of Jennings' 24 regular-season receptions, 15 earned the 49ers a first down. In the playoffs, four of his six catches moved the chains. 49ers quarterbacks had a 115.5 passer rating when targeting Jennings this past season.
"The dude just balls," Warner continued. "It's crazy because it's not just with the ball in his hands. It's blocking. He's over here taking dudes out in the blocking game because that's just a mentality thing. He's got the right mentality.
"And you look at him, he's kind of like, 'Hmmm, he looks like he'd be a decent player.' Bro, this dude is a dog. I'm telling you, he's one of our best players."
Sherman shared the story of going one-on-one against Jennings during the receiver's rookie season and the 49ers being "super-high" on him.
"I'm watching the tape, and I'm watching him walk around," Sherman shared. "He look like he got bad knees. He don't look like he's about to cause me no issues. And then you get out there and deal with him, you're like, 'Wait a minute.'"
After laughing, Warner responded, "There are some dudes who are just ballers, just gamers, and that's exactly what he is. You talk about all them yards and stuff he had at Tennessee, he balled at Tennessee. I don't know how, I didn't watch him, but I believe it. I see the kid work. I see how he works at his craft. I see how he competes. I love competing against a guy like that."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Warner below.
