The San Francisco 49ers announced that they have extended a second-round tender to wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who was slated to become a restricted free agent on Wednesday, the start of the new league year.
The 49ers had aimed to negotiate a contract extension with Jennings before the onset of free agency. The right-of-first-refusal second-round tender ensures Jennings a deal valued at $4.89 million for the upcoming season. The team stands to gain a second-round draft pick should he sign elsewhere for a higher salary. While the tender for Jennings exceeds expectations, it presents an attractive salary for the receiver in 2024, should he remain with the team.
"Jauan is really important to what we do," general manager John Lynch recently said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "I think he continues to show that. If the tender is the vehicle to keep him around for another year … I think we're also interested in extending him out. There may be an opportunity to do that. We'll just have to see where that goes and if we can come to an agreement there."
San Francisco selected Jennings (6-3, 212) from Tennessee in the seventh round (No. 217 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He registered 19 receptions for 265 yards and a touchdown through 13 game appearances (two starts) with the 49ers last season, per Pro Football Reference. Including the playoffs, 20 of his 29 receptions resulted in first downs.
Jennings, 26, has caught 78 passes for 963 yards and seven touchdowns in 45 game appearances (seven starts) over the past three NFL seasons.