3 reasons 2025 could be Jauan Jennings' final season with the 49ers

Jennings is a competitor first

That's right. The very reason that Jennings should have signed a long-term deal by now is the same reason that he hasn't signed one yet. He reported to camp.

Jennings is a football player, period—a very tough, competitive, loyal football player. In fact, that's probably what Lynch and company love the most about him. Keeping that in mind, let's examine the past few years for San Francisco.

Washington Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel was up for an extension, and what did he do? He threatened to hold out. Now, let's fast forward to Brandon Aiyuk's contract year, and history repeated itself. They forced San Francisco's hand and didn't flinch. Both players stood firm, and both players got paid. Fans hated it, but it got the job done.

Jennings' contract dispute is a classic game of cat and mouse. And when he reported to camp, he became the mouse. Plain and simple.

Moving forward, the popular opinion is that he will play through the remainder of his contract and then be sent on his way or offered another two-year deal.

Jennings' value is far greater on another team

The 49ers have completely turned the page on the previous roster. We don't need to recount who has left the team. Tough decisions were made, and here we are. With that being said, no one is safe.

Jennings' value is far greater via trade than it is on the roster. Don't shoot the messenger, but if I was wrong, then why isn't he locked up? Because from where I'm standing, if you add him to any other roster in the league, except for the Cincinnati Bengals, he's a starter on Day 1.

It would be very easy to tear down this theory by saying, "The 49ers terminated other contracts; why not terminate his?" It's because Jennings continues to sign team-friendly deals that temporarily suit him.

Once again, he's a competitor first.

The 49ers invested a first-round pick in wide receiver Ricky Pearsall

Finally, and we could've just started with this one, but where would we be without the climax?

You don't draft first-round talent if you have that same talent that you value in the building already. Not when you have other needs like the 49ers did when they spent a first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall. The only time you pick the "best player available" is if you have no glaring needs or you're fresh off a Super Bowl victory.

At that time, future Hall of Famer Trent Williams had no successor, and there was no clear, proven tight end behind George Kittle. Both were glaring needs, and both were ignored.

There's simply no room on the budget for a Jauan Jennings deal, with Aiyuk's massive contract on the books.

At the very least, Jennings deserves to be wide receiver two, and until Aiyuk returns from injury, his numbers will reflect wide receiver one. Nonetheless, if he decides to play, his contract will remain the same—underappreciated.

It'll be entirely up to him if he wants to remain that way.