49ers Expected to Lose Top WR Jauan Jennings in Free Agency

The 28-year-old wide receiver is likely to command a big contract elsewhere this offseason.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The San Francisco 49ers are expected to lose wide receiver Jauan Jennings in free agency this offseason. According to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, the two sides were unable to reach a long-term deal last summer, and Jennings' production in 2025 wasn't enough to convince the 49ers to keep him. Jennings is now set to hit the open market, where a receiver-needy team is likely to offer him a lucrative contract that the 49ers can't match.

Why it matters

The 49ers are already facing a need at wide receiver after the departure of Brandon Aiyuk, and now they'll likely have to replace Jennings as well. Losing their top two receivers would be a significant blow to the offense, and the 49ers will need to be aggressive in free agency and the draft to rebuild their receiving corps.

The details

Jennings, a 2019 seventh-round pick, has been a productive player for the 49ers over the past five seasons, catching 210 passes for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also added 289 receiving yards and one touchdown in the playoffs. However, his 2025 season, in which he had 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns, wasn't enough to convince the 49ers to make him a priority this offseason.

  • Jennings is set to hit free agency in the 2026 offseason.

The players

Jauan Jennings

A 28-year-old wide receiver who has spent the last five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Brandon Aiyuk

A former 49ers wide receiver who has also departed the team this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“FA most likely on the move: Jauan Jennings. The Niners would like to keep Jennings, but the two sides didn't come close to figuring out a long-term deal last summer, and Jennings didn't have a big enough season to budge them.”

— Nick Wagoner, ESPN reporter (ESPN)

What’s next

The 49ers will need to be aggressive in free agency and the draft to rebuild their receiving corps after the expected departures of Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk.

The takeaway

The 49ers' inability to re-sign Jauan Jennings highlights the challenges of retaining top talent in the NFL, especially when a player is set to command a significant contract on the open market. The 49ers will need to get creative to replace Jennings and Aiyuk, but this offseason could be a critical one for the team's offensive future.