![]() Here’s how the 49ers roster shapes up with free agency hitting a second wave and the draft coming up April 27-29: Two more players - cornerback Emmanuel Moseley (Detroit) and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (Houston) will also depart, with Moseley being a mild surprise coming off an ACL tear in Week 5.Īn important piece of the offensive line was brought back in center Jake Brendel, while others scheduled for free agency who re-upped were defensive lineman Kevin Givens, tackle/guard Colton McKivitz, free safety Tashaun Gipson and long-snapper Taybor Pepper. Those losses were factored in by coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to the cost of doing business under the salary cap. Nonetheless, Jennings should be a key component of the 49ers' formula in 2023, especially in the run game, ahead of his restricted free-agent year in 2024.At the close of the regular season, the 49ers all but said goodbye to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tackle Mike McGlinchey, defensive back Jimmie Ward and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.Īll have reportedly agreed to terms with other teams during the negotiating period and can officially sign contracts Wednesday at the start of the new league year - Garoppolo with the Las Vegas Raiders, McGlinchey with the Denver Broncos while Ward joins former defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans in Houston and Al-Shaair heads to Tennessee. The wideout still has drop concerns, while his lack of high-end speed limits the number of downfield opportunities, leaving Jennings with the same situation he had entering 2022.Īdditionally, Deebo Samuel is looking for a bounce-back year, while Brandon Aiyuk is aiming for another 1,000-yard season ahead of a major contract extension. Given the number of weapons that San Francisco has, as well as a full offseason for Christian McCaffrey to get even more involved, I just don't see an increased opportunity for Jennings in 2023, although he should thrive in the supplementary role he's given. So, will Jennings have a breakout season, continuing to improve on the numbers of the past year, or will he provide similar production in his second season as a full-time starter? Many have pointed at second-year wide receiver Danny Gray, a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, as a successor for Jennings following another offseason under his belt, but I anticipate Jennings retaining his role, given the unique ability he provides for the 49ers in the slot, as well as the offense San Francisco intends to run. Jennings enters the offseason in a similar place to where he ended the season: the odds-on favorite to win the starting slot position, given his run-blocking abilities, size, and route-running capabilities that have propelled the 49ers on a multitude of third-down conversions. With the production he had in a starting role for the 49ers in 2023, it was a no-brainer to retain him on a cheap one-year, $940,000 deal for another season. Overall, Jennings served as a capable third-down weapon, possessing good route-running abilities for his 6'3, 215-pound frame, helping the 49ers consistently move the chains on crucial downs.Īdditionally, Jennings continued to serve as a prominent run-blocker on early downs, providing the necessary energy and force when the 49ers ran the football. The 2020 seventh-rounder's drop issues weren't a myth either, however, as Jennings finished the season with a 12.5% drop rate. Jennings had a slow start to the 2022 season, marred by an offseason fueled with drop concerns that led to questions surrounding his overall role to begin the year.īut, the wideout had a solid first game of the year, leading the 49ers with four catches and 62 yards in a loss to the Chicago Bears in a season where he would total 47% of the offensive snaps for the team. That leads to the question: Is Jauan Jennings primed for a breakout in 2023? Jennings has steadily improved through his NFL career, jumping from 24 catches for 282 yards in 2021 to 35 catches for 416 yards in 2023, although his touchdown numbers dropped from 5 to 1 in that time span. The San Francisco 49ers went through some significant turnover at key positions, including their coaching staff, but were able to keep a core group of players intact: the wide receivers.Īmong that group stands star wideout Deebo Samuel and extension-bound Brandon Aiyuk, but a core component of the 49ers' formula is fourth-year wideout Jauan Jennings, who is primed to retain his position as the starting slot receiver.Īfter being released in 2020 as a seventh-round draftee, Jennings has worked his way into an everyday role, taking over for the veteran Mohammed Sanu as the slot receiver midway through the 2021 season before holding that role full-time in 2022.
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