49ers get $15 million contract update on Jauan Jennings thanks to George Pickens

The San Francisco 49ers have some work to do this offseason. Specifically, the 49ers need to figure out what to do at wide receiver and at pass rusher.

Of the two, the wide receiver spot is the more pressing issue. Brandon Aiyuk is as good as gone, and Jauan Jennings is a free agent.

They could try bringing Jennings back, but the latest update on his projected contract from Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer isn't cheap. A $15 million APY deal, thanks in part to George Pickens, could spell trouble for the 49ers.

49ers get $15M Jauan Jennings contract projection

"Tags going to Pickens and perhaps Alec Pierce have a chance to goose the market for Seattle's Rashid Shaheed, San Francisco's Jauan Jennings, and the Giants' Wan'Dale Robinson," Breer writes. "All three have a shot to get over $15 million per year on new deals..."

Thanks to the Dallas Cowboys' franchise-tagging of Pickens and the Indianapolis Colts strongly considering doing the same with Alec Pierce, the 49ers might be in a much more difficult place when it comes to keeping Jennings.

With fewer wide receivers available in free agency, it wouldn't be a surprise if Jennings, Robinson, and Shaheed were able to command a stronger contract.

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Breer is projecting their deals to rise, potentially even higher than $15 million per-year. While that wouldn't come close to the top money in the NFL for WRs, it would still be a lot more than some of the mid-tier free agents the last few years.

There are plenty of teams that need a wide receiver, the 49ers included. But, with their other pressing needs and limited cap space, the 49ers might be forced to pivot to the 2026 NFL Draft for their wide receiver help.

Thanks in part to Pickens getting tagged, the 49ers might have a much harder time retaining Jennings this offseason amid this $15 million projection.

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