Jauan Jennings is on the rise after posting a career-high 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns. He likely would have surpassed 1,000 receiving yards had he not been ejected from the San Francisco 49ers' season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Before this past season, Jennings had never eclipsed 416 receiving yards, but he has now established himself as a key offensive weapon.

Jennings' emergence likely softened the blow of parting with Deebo Samuel, who will officially be traded to the Washington Commanders on March 12. The 49ers received only a fifth-round draft pick in return—far less than they could have commanded when his stock peaked in 2021—and will absorb a $31.55 million dead cap hit. However, with the declining Samuel entering the final year of his contract, the team opted to move on while they could.


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With Jennings under contract through 2025, Samuel's departure should create more opportunities for him and second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall, especially if No. 1 receiver Brandon Aiyuk isn't ready for the start of the season. The 49ers are high on Pearsall, who showed promise in his injury-shortened rookie year and could develop into a key contributor. Fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing also has intriguing potential, and the team may look to add even more depth in the draft.

The 49ers are unlikely to let Jennings walk in free agency after 2025, making him a prime candidate for an extension—especially with Samuel out of the picture. At 27, Jennings is slightly younger and has less wear and tear than his former teammate.

In 2024, Jennings proved he could be more than just "Third-and-Jauan," stepping into the X receiver role when Aiyuk went down with ACL and MCL injuries. While he lacks elite speed, his physicality and gritty play style make him a tough one-on-one matchup. And his tenacious blocking can frustrate opponents.


"But Jauan, he does it like he does everything," head coach Kyle Shanahan said in December. "Jauan goes as hard as he can in every single situation. Doesn't matter whether the ball is in his hands, he's running around or he's blocking, doesn't matter whether it's a deep throw, an underneath throw in practice or in games. Jauan is always just going 100 miles an hour and playing as physical as he can."

Quarterback Brock Purdy, due for a contract extension this offseason, has developed trust in Jennings as a big-bodied target and believes he can thrive in any role Shanahan assigns him.


"I think J.J.'s frame and playing X receiver, like he fits the mold pretty well," Purdy said in December. "He's done a great job of going in there and doing everything that we ask of him within our offense, just like B.A. ... I think regardless, J.J.'s a competitor. Anytime, he's in a one-on-one matchup, I can always give him a shot and a chance and he comes down with it."

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