You know what, maybe there is actually something to this whole “electromagnetic field theory” that alleges the electrical substation near the San Francisco 49ers’ practice facility in Santa Clara is having negative effects on the team’s players. Because something has convinced free agent Jauan Jennings that he’s a star No. 1 wide receiver and should be paid as such.
The 49ers seemingly moved on from retaining Jennings when they made the splash signing of Mike Evans earlier this month, and two weeks into NFL free agency no other team has met his asking price either as Jennings remains unsigned.
“What did Jauan Jennings price himself at? The 49ers, I will say it, I know my friend [Kyle Shanahan] liked Jauan Jennings. They thought he was a damn good player, but he’s overpriced himself here,” NFL analyst Chris Simms said on the Pro Football Talk podcast with Mike Florio this week. “He fit the system in what they did, but they obviously felt they couldn’t even get something done with him to where they pivoted to Mike Evans.”
Florio responded: “And here we are 10 days into free agency and Jennings is still available — and 10 days is a lifetime as far as free agency goes. The money is gone, and Jennings is going to end up doing a one-year deal somewhere unless he decides to wait for someone to get injured and that may gain him more leverage.
We’re actually 14 days into free agency now, only further exacerbating that point.
Jennings is actually a great success story.
He was a seventh-round draft pick (No. 217 overall) by San Francisco in 2020. He was waived that September and spent his first year in the NFL on the 49ers’ practice squad. Then he started carving out a complementary role the next three seasons before a belated breakout in 2024 — 77 catches for 975 yards and 6 TDs.
He just kind of fell into being the team’s de facto top WR most of the last two seasons.
It started when No. 1 WR Brandon Aiyuk was lost to a torn ACL/MCL early in that 2024 season and a subsequent fallout with the organization then kept from ever returning. Deebo Samuel moved on to the Washington Commanders last season. And 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall was the victim of a robbery/gun shot wound that delayed his NFL debut, limiting him to 11 games as a rookie before other injuries limited him to nine games in 2025.
But circumstances don’t define a player’s stature — performance does.
Jennings totaled a modest 55 catches for 643 yards and 9 TDs in 15 games in 2025 and then had just 3 catches for 68 yards in two playoff games. He reached at least 75 yards in only one game and was held to 45 yards or fewer in 11 of the 15 games he played — despite his 90 targets being 37 more than any other WR on the team (and second overall to running back Christian McCaffrey).
The reality is Jennings is a mid-tier to low-end No. 2 receiver who was given a chance to fill the role of a top target due purely to a confluence of circumstances and lack of other options, and he did not maximize that opportunity.
It has not been reported what exactly he and his agent were asking from teams this month, but it’s clear it was way too much.
If Jennings has been humbled enough by that reality and is willing to be a secondary option, these are a few intriguing fits for him …
5 Logical Landing Spots For Free Agent WR Jauan Jennings
1. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders spent plenty of money in free agency across their roster, but the only notable wide receiver they’ve added is Jalen Nailor (29 catches for 444 yards and 4 TDs for Minnesota in 2025) while Tre Tucker (57-696-5) is the only returning WR who had even 250 yards last season.
Of course, tight end Brock Bowers is the centerpiece of the passing attack in Las Vegas, but in terms of opportunity on the outside, this is one place where Jennings could actually be the No. 1 WR.
As long as he doesn’t expect to be paid like one.
With a new coaching staff led by offensive-minded head coach Klint Kubiak, a bolstered offensive line and Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza expected to be the team’s No. 1 overall pick, the Raiders should be plenty enticing to Jennings at this point.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
This is, of course, working on the presumption that the Eagles trade disgruntled star wideout A.J. Brown after June 1.
That would leave DeVonta Smith as the clear No. 1 WR and newly signed Hollywood Brown (on a low-risk, 1-year, $5-million deal) as the only other experienced player at the position, and Brown is more of a No. 3/4 WR at this point in his career.
Jennings could step into the No. 2 WR role for a Super Bowl contender, although it’s fair for any wide receiver to have doubts/concerns about the Eagles’ commitment to the passing game after last season.
3. Indianapolis Colts
As part of paying wide receiver Alec Pierce like he’s peak Reggie Wayne in order to retain him in free agency, the Colts had to trade away Michael Pittman for a bag of kicking tees from the Pittsburgh Steelers (who actually flipped their sixth-round pick for Indianapolis’ seventh-rounder).
That means the Colts have a lucratively paid No. 1 WR who has never even reached 50 catches in a season and intriguing young wideout Josh Downs (58-566-4 last season) as the team’s only experienced players at the position.
Jennings would fit in nicely there with Downs operating primarily out of the slot.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
This is another one contingent on a separate decision.
Jennings makes sense for the Chargers IF the team wants to get younger and move on from free agent Keenan Allen, who had a team-high 81 catches for 777 yards with 4 TDs in his return to the franchise. Allen is set to turn 34 years old next month, though, and remains a free agent.
If Los Angeles wants to move in a different direction, bringing in Jennings to pair on the outside with Quentin Johnston with Ladd McConkey operating a bulk of his snaps out of the slot.
5. Miami Dolphins
Again, if Jennings is insistent he’s a No. 1 WR, well there’s only a select few players where that might be able to come to fruition.
Miami is certainly one after releasing Tyreek Hill and trading away Jaylen Waddle this offseason.
The top of the Dolphins’ WR depth chart presently features Malik Washington, Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, so yeah, if it’s stature and volume Jennings prioritizes most, well, it’s there waiting in Miami.
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