Following a breakout 2024 season, Jauan Jennings has made it clear he wants either a new contract or a trade.
NFL insider Adam Schefter was first to report on the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver’s current disaffection. While he’s not expected to hold out, Jennings could formally request a trade if no extension is reached. Despite the ultimatum, the 49ers remain reluctant to move him, which makes sense with Brandon Aiyuk recovering from injury and Deebo Samuel no longer on the roster.
But there’s reported interest from other teams, which could drive up his value. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report put together a trade proposal that would send Jennings to the AFC, while bringing a new WR to the Bay Area.
“The New England Patriots may have one of the NFL’s most crowded receivers rooms going into training camp, but it wouldn’t be a shock if they made a splash to add another talented wideout into the mix,” Kay wrote on July 15. “New England brought in a new regime helmed by head coach Mike Vrabel and de facto general manger Eliot Wolf, a pairing whose mission is to develop and support Drake Maye.”
49ers Trade Proposal Swaps Jauan Jennings for Patriots WR Ja’Lynn Polk
GettyA new trade idea swaps San Francisco 49er wide receiver Jauan Jennings and Patriots WR Ja’Lynn Polk.
Here’s the complete trade proposal courtesy of Kay:
Patriots would receive: WR Jauan Jennings
49ers would receive: 2026 fourth-round pick, WR Ja’Lynn Polk
“Vrabel revealed last month that he would be monitoring holdout situations around the league in search of trade opportunities,” Kay noted.
“With Jennings indicating he wants a new deal, the cash-flush Pats could be well-positioned to strike. Trading for Jennings would immediately bolster Maye’s weapons and give the young signal-caller one of the league’s deepest receiving corps. The Pats could facilitate this deal by giving Polk a chance for a fresh start in San Francisco’s offense and adding an early Day 3 pick into the mix.”
Polk entered the NFL when the Patriots drafted him 37th overall in the second round of the 2024 draft. As a rookie last year, Polk appeared in 15 games (seven starts). He finished with just 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets.
Despite flashes of potential, he struggled with consistency. By midseason, he suffered a shoulder injury that limited his snaps and production.
Now, he’s looking for a role amid a crowded Patriots receiver room bolstered by additions like Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins.
Why the Niners Would Never Make This Trade
On paper, this trade offers a clear benefit to the Patriots: Jennings enjoyed a breakout 2024 season, finishing with 77 catches, 975 yards and six touchdowns, while Polk struggled mightily. They’d still have to pay Jennings, though.
From the 49ers’ perspective, trading Jennings would preempt a contentious contract negotiation, clear cap space and yield Polk—a young asset with potential upside—along with a mid-round pick. It would also leave them without a WR1 in the building for an unclear amount of time. No team wants that.
If both Jennings and the Niners can align on valuation and negotiations, this will all blow over quickly. Jennings wants clarity on his role or compensation, and he knows his value is at an all-time high right now.
But his strong rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy coupled with his reliability on third downs make him too valuable an asset for the Niners to part with — especially for an unporven player like Polk.
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