After spending his first five seasons of professional football with the San Francisco 49ers, former Tennessee standout Jauan Jennings could be on the move this offseason. Jennings was drafted by the Niners in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft and played on his rookie contract for his first three seasons before signing a two-year extension before the 2024 season.
Jennings and the 49ers had a contract dispute that went public last offseason, with the former Vol looking for either a new contract or a trade before the 2025 season. The 49ers didn’t budge on either request, but the two sides did come to an incentive-based agreement for the season.
Now that Jennings is a pending free agent, there’s uncertainty about his future in San Francisco.
“I don’t think that anything has changed in the year where both sides are just like, ‘oh my gosh, we just can’t survive without each other, let’s bring him back,'” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco said on a recent social media clip. “So, let’s just say, I wouldn’t expect (Jauan) Jennings to be back with the 49ers.”
In early February, CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles predicted where each of the NFL’s Top 50 free agents would land this offseason, whether it be with their current franchise or a different one. Pereles has Jennings, who is tagged as the No. 11 free agent in the class, returning to his home state of Tennessee to play for the Titans. He also lists the Buffalo Bills, the Atlanta Falcons, and a return to the Niners as other possible options.
“Jennings had a breakout 2024 and followed it up with a solid 2025 that included nine receiving touchdowns,” Pereles writes. “He’s a big, strong reliable receiver who is especially effective on third downs, and Robert Saleh would love to bring him along from San Francisco to Tennessee.”
More From RTI: Tennessee Football Lands Runner Up on CFB Way-Too Early All-America Team
There’s no question that Tennessee Volunteers fans would love to see Jennings back in the Volunteer State to continue his football career. Jennings would also give rising sophomore quarterback Cam Ward a veteran receiver who has a knack for making big plays across the field.
After tallying just 78 catches in his first three seasons, Jennings broke through in 2024 with the Niners battling injuries to the pass-catching unit. He caught 77 passes for 975 yards and six touchdowns, which were all career highs at the time. Jennings battled a bevy of injuries himself leading into and during the 2025 season, but managed to play through them and caught 55 passes for 643 yards and a new career high nine touchdowns.
Jennings is also the first non-QB to throw for two passing touchdowns during the NFL postseason since the merger. His first postseason touchdown pass came in the 2024 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, and his most recent one came just a month ago in the 49ers’ NFC Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
QB1 – Jauan Jennings
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) January 12, 2026
Jauan Jennings’ free agency situation will be an important one to monitor in the NFL this offseason, with CBS Sports tagging him as the third-best wide receiver on the market behind only George Pickens and Alec Pierce.
