If someone asked you to name a couple of wide receivers on the San Francisco 49ers, the first two names that would pop into your head would be Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.
However, there is a third wide out who showed his importance to the team during the playoffs, and Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area thinks the 49ers should prioritize him this offseason.
That player is Jauan Jennings.
Jennings was somewhat of an afterthought during the regular season, as he logged just 19 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown this past year.
However, in the postseason, Jennings impressed, catching 10 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. He was particularly noticeable during the Super Bowl, when he not only totaled four grabs for 42 yards and a score, but also threw a touchdown pass.
The thing is, Jennings is set to hit free agency in a couple of weeks, and Maiocco feels that San Francisco should do whatever it can to re-sign him.
“I think he’s a very important guy,” Maiocco said on the 49ers Talk podcast. “I would put him as priority No. 1 for the 49ers to make sure he’s back on this team next season.”
You wouldn’t expect someone to say that a tertiary receiver should be a top priority, but that is how good Jennings looked in the playoffs.
The 26-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Tennessee, was selected by the Niners in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He played in 16 games during his rookie campaign, registering 24 catches for 282 yards and five scores. The following year, Jennings appeared in 16 more contests and hauled in 35 receptions for 416 yards while reaching the end zone once.
Whether or not the 49ers actually put any primacy on retaining Jennings remains to be seen. They have plenty of other things to worry about.
But there’s no doubt that having Jennings back in the fold would be a nice luxury for San Francisco.
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