The San Francisco 49ers' 2025 campaign came to a jarring end with a 41-6 playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks-a result that underscored just how banged up this roster was by season’s end. Injuries piled up throughout the year, and while the Niners showed grit to even make it this far, their season ultimately fizzled out under the weight of attrition.
One of the players who battled through that adversity was wide receiver Jauan Jennings. The veteran wideout came into the season already dealing with injuries, but when he returned to the lineup, he didn’t just contribute-he stepped up as the team’s top receiver. Jennings led the wide receiver group and finished second only to Christian McCaffrey in receiving yards, putting up 643 yards and a team-high nine touchdown catches.
Now, the 28-year-old is heading into free agency, and his future in San Francisco is very much up in the air.
“He plays the game the right way. We’d love to have him back,” said 49ers President of Football Operations and GM John Lynch.
“We’ll work to accomplish that. We’ll see how it goes.”
That’s not exactly a slam dunk endorsement, and it leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Jennings is entering what could be his final opportunity for a significant payday, and Spotrac currently projects his market value at around $22 million per year. That’s a hefty price tag for a 49ers team that already has major cap commitments across the roster-particularly on the defensive side of the ball and at key offensive positions like left tackle and running back.
Making matters even more complicated, San Francisco is widely expected to part ways with fellow wideout Brandon Aiyuk this offseason. That would open the door for Jennings to take on an even bigger role-if the team can afford to keep him around.
The 49ers may be forced to lean on younger, cheaper options in 2026, and one name to watch is Ricky Pearsall. The second-year receiver was on the verge of a breakout season before suffering a knee injury that derailed his momentum.
“He was leading the league in a lot of categories before he got hurt,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Then he landed on his knee in the wrong way.”
If Pearsall can bounce back healthy, he’s likely to begin next season as the team’s primary outside threat. But even that’s not a sure thing, especially with tight end George Kittle also recovering from an Achilles injury. Kittle’s absence would remove a major safety valve for the quarterback, meaning the receiving corps will need to shoulder even more of the offensive load.
All told, the 49ers' offense could look very different in 2026. Between free agency decisions, injury recoveries, and potential roster shake-ups, there’s a lot of uncertainty hanging over this unit. But one thing is clear: if Jennings walks, San Francisco loses not just a productive receiver, but a tone-setter who brings physicality and toughness to every snap.
Now it’s up to the front office to decide if they can make the numbers work-or if they’ll have to find that edge somewhere else.