Wideout Jauan Jennings is a restricted free agent and the 49ers are assuring some kind of compensation if he signs elsewhere. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the 49ers have placed a second-round tender on Jennings.
Jennings will now be tied to a one-year deal worth $4.89M thanks to the tender. The wideout could still join another team if he signs an unmatched offer sheet, although that’d require a suitor to sacrifice a second-round selection to the 49ers.
The second-round tender always seemed like the likeliest route for the organization. San Francisco could have tendered Jennings at his original-round level ($3.12M), but an unmatched offer sheet would have only resulted in a seventh-rounder as compensation.
The former seventh-round pick has spent his entire career with the 49ers, appearing in 45 games across three seasons. Jennings has settled into the WR3 role behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, although that’s still led to plenty of targets.
Jennings had a career year in 2022, finishing with 35 catches for 416 yards and one touchdown. His numbers took a bit of a step back in 2023 (19 catches, 265 yards), but Jennings turned it on in the playoffs. In three games, the receiver hauled in 10 catches for 111 yards and a score.
John Lynch previously implied that the 49ers could explore an extension with Jennings, and today’s move doesn’t do anything to reduce those chances. Still, the receiver will have to juggle a long-term commitment vs. a near-$5M salary for 2024.
More must-reads: