The Minnesota Vikings’ decision to add Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad has already shifted the conversation around their receiver room, and Jauan Jennings is suddenly part of the trade buzz.
Not long after Beckham’s signing became public last week, speculation started building that Minnesota could shop Jennings before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline. The chatter suggests the Vikings are at least willing to signal that he could be available if the price is right.
That possibility picked up more steam on Tuesday, when NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said on “The Pat McAfee Show” that Jennings could be moved before October ends, according to David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. Jennings has barely made a mark for Minnesota so far, with just two catches for nine yards this season.
There’s also a familiar fit waiting on the other side. Jennings spent time with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan from 2020 through the 2025 season, and San Francisco has been tied often to receivers who might change teams before Nov.
- In an article published Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote that “Jennings is the forgotten man in Minnesota’s passing attack” and “would fit well with any Shanahan-style scheme, which is much of the league now.”
The 49ers are not the only team in the mix. The Kansas City Chiefs, the Indianapolis Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders have also been mentioned as possible landing spots for receivers.
Still, the Vikings may have financial reasons to hold Jennings for the moment. On Wednesday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk laid out why Minnesota might not rush into a straight release.
“In lieu of simply cutting Jennings,” Florio said, “there’s a possible deal to be made that would get the Vikings something of value in exchange for the balance of his one-year contract, which included a $4.5M signing bonus with a $1.63M base salary and nearly $100,000 per game in active roster bonuses and incentives tied to playing time and receptions.”
Other receivers are also floating around in trade talk, including Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jerry Jeudy of the Cleveland Browns and Quentin Johnston of the Los Angeles Chargers. How those situations play out could help shape where Jennings is playing a month from now.
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