Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings sent out a pair of pointed social media messages Friday, and the timing only added more fuel to the trade chatter building around him ahead of the NFL’s Nov. 10 deadline.
Jennings posted a photo of himself smiling in a Vikings uniform with the caption “Forever thankful."
He then added another message in a separate text block: “God told me I wouldn’t be the first nor the last to go through it,” Jennings added in a separate text block below. “He just made sure we were built for it."
What he was referring to wasn’t clear. The post could have been tied to the trade speculation, his quiet start, or something more personal.
Jennings missed the season opener after a death in his immediate family, and since coming back he still hasn’t found much traction. Through four games, including two starts, he has just two catches for nine yards on five targets. He also has not settled into a steady rhythm with either Carson Wentz or Kyler Murray.
That production is a long way from what Jennings delivered in 2025 with the San Francisco 49ers, when he put up 55 receptions for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 15 games. In 2024, he was even more productive, finishing with 77 catches, 975 yards and six scores over the same number of contests.
Minnesota gave him a one-year deal worth roughly $8 million in base salary, with incentives that could raise it to nearly $13 million. During free agency, he drew interest from several other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders.
The Vikings are 5-0 and are viewed as buyers on offense, but Jennings’ limited role has led to reports that he could be moved for draft capital. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has said the receiver’s trade market is expected to heat up in the weeks leading to the deadline.
The Chiefs, who are also undefeated at 4-0, have had injury trouble at receiver with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. A possible Tyreek Hill return is still uncertain as he works back and deals with a recent civil judgment of $500,000 against him on two counts of battery.
Las Vegas, sitting at 3-2, has been searching for a true outside target. Kirk Cousins has leaned heavily on tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, plus running back Ashton Jeanty, while Tre Tucker leads the Raiders’ wideouts with 19 catches for 274 yards and one touchdown.
Jennings fits as a physical possession receiver who can help move the chains, score near the goal line and do the dirty work as a blocker on the edge.
Washington, now 1-3-1, had previously checked in on him as well, though that record makes a deadline push less likely. If Minnesota does deal him, it likely won’t bring back much more than a late-round pick because of the short-term contract and the slow start.
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