The Minnesota Vikings boast one of the most talent-laden assortments of playmakers in the NFL. However, no team will ever say they have enough playmakers, and the Vikings may face an opportunity to acquire another with a trade for Jauan Jennings.
The San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver has asked for a contract extension and plans to request a trade if that does not happen, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter on July 14.
“Locked On Vikings” host Sam Ekstrom argued a trade involving Jalen Nailor could make sense.
During the July 14 episode, co-host Luke Inman argued that a fifth-round pick, along with Nailor, could be enough to pry Nailor from the 49ers. However, fellow panelist Arif Hassan expressed his belief that it would take at least a third-round pick to secure a potential “WR2 or [WR]3.”
This Heavy Sports trade proposal splits the difference, sending Nailor to the 49ers and a fourth-rounder while netting Jennings for the Vikings.
Vikings get:
- Jauan Jennings
49ers get:
- Jalen Nailor
- 2026 conditional fourth-round pick (otherwise, 2027 fourth-round pick)
Jennings was a seventh-round pick by the 49ers in the 2020 draft.
He set new career-highs with 77 receptions for 975 yards and 6 touchdowns during the 2024 season. He is also entering the final year of a two-year, $11.8 million contract, which is where the situation could get particularly complicated for the Vikings.
Jauan Jennings a Fitting, but Unlikely Vikings Trade Target
GettyJauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions.
Ekstrom made his case for the Vikings to trade for Jennings, though he ultimately acknowledged it might be a long shot.
“Love Jennings the player. Third in contested catches last year, over 62%. He’s a 60% contested-catch guy in his career. Big slot. Creates versatility. He was 12th in yards per route run last year. So, hyper-efficient. I love Jennings. He’s 28, not that young, not a lot on his last year of his deal. I don’t think it would require an immense amount to get the trade done. The extension is the issue,” Ekstrom told Inman and Hassan.
“I would trade Jalen Nailor in the deal. I would give them Nailor, I would take Jennings, and I would try to sign him to a two-year $25 million deal, and use void years and try to fit that in. Try to make that work. I would frontload it, I would pay more this year, so it’s less against the cap next year, because you’re tighter against the cap. I think it’d be a huge upgrade, to be honest with you, and I think it’d be a little superfluous to have Nailor, and Jennings, and [Tai] Felton, and more. Then, you get a little crowded. I would give up Nailor in the deal and give San Francisco something back. Someone to fill a bit of that void.”
The 49ers recognize the physical Jennings is a “dawg.”
“This feels like it’s one of those slightly too splashy moves where you’ve got a GM, and a coach who I think like to sit these out. I don’t think it’s going to happen; I don’t think there’s a high likelihood of it happening. I, however, would be supportive of if it did, ” Ekstrom said.
“This would be a receiver coming into his prime. You’re probably buying high on him, I get that. Maybe it’s not a good process, but I think it upgrades the spot. I think it gives you three pretty unbelievable receivers. You have someone to fill that void when Addison is out much more effectively. And, oh, yeah, you’ve got T.J. Hockenson. And, oh, yeah, you got injury insurance. Guys could get hurt.”
Among the issues the Vikings face is the lack of draft capital due to previous trades.
The conditional pick they would send to the 49ers is contingent upon whatever playing time threshold they agreed to with the Jacksonville Jaguars after trading for Cam Robinson in 2024.
Hassan and Inman both agreed that the Vikings trading for Jennings is unlikely, even before Ekstrom mentioned Nailor. In addition to Jennings wanting a new contract in the final year of his current two-year, $11.8 million pact, the Broncos are also deep at wide receiver.
Vikings Have Deep Stable of WRs
GettyJordan Addison #3 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with teammate Justin Jefferson #18 after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
Working against a trade for Jennings, Addison will be extension-eligible in 2026 and figures to be a priority if he is still with the team as expected. Additionally, Nailor (aka “Speedy”) is in the final year of his four-year, $3.8 million rookie deal with the Vikings, who hold him in high regard.
Still, the Vikings also have Justin Jefferson on a four-year, $140 million deal and Hockenson on a four-year, $66 million contract. They have also invested heavily in their lines.
The Vikings can do what they have because they have J.J. McCarthy on a rookie deal.
Jennings would help too, and Inman noted that he would upgrade the Vikings’ WR3 spot, and provide injury insurance as well as potentially covering Minnesota if Addison receives a suspension as a result of his suspected DUI arrest in July 2024.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent seven seasons in the 49ers’ organization, while head coach Kevin O’Connell spent one season.
The wideout also has ties to the Vikings’ roster.
Jennings was teammates with Vikings offseason trade pickup and running back Jordan Mason on the 49ers from 2022 through 2024. Jennings was also a collegiate teammate of Vikings RB Ty Chandler at Tennessee.
Inman admitted not being “super excited” about Felton, a rookie third-round pick. However, the finances simply did not add up for the Vikings. They are on track to exceed the cap in 2026.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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