Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

‘Don’t Blame Him’ – Former NFL Scout Stands by Jauan Jennings Desire for More Money or a Trade Request

Jauan Jennings is currently earning around $7.5 million per year

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

The San Francisco 49ers have a huge problem on their hands. After a dismal 2024 campaign that saw the 49ers finish dead last in the NFC West with just 6 wins on the year, the team will be keen to get off to a rolling start for the 2025 season.

While injuries hampered the team throughout the season in 2024, most of the players will be back to their best by the time the new season starts. However, the 49ers now have to deal with Jauan Jennings and his request to be traded or to be paid more.

49ers Troubles Ahead of the 2025 Season

The 49ers’ wide receiver room is currently in the doldrums. Deebo Samuel has been traded to the Commanders, Brandon Aiyuk is returning from an ACL/MCL injury, and Ricky Pearsall never had the season that was expected of him after getting shot in the chest during an attempted robbery.

Demarcus Robinson may get suspended by the league after his DUI case came to a close, and Jacob Cowing is an undersized receiver who cannot carry the offense on his shoulders. That leaves Jauan Jennings as the only reliable wideout for San Fran, at least to start the season.

Knowing this, Jennings has requested the team for a new contract, or else a trade to another team. Many experts, analysts, and fans have criticised him for such demands, but not everyone sees this as necessarily a bad thing.

49ers WR Jauan Jennings, who is scheduled to make $7.5 million this season in the final year of his deal, wants a new contract or a trade, per sources.

49ers extended Jennings’ deal last year, but that does not change how Jennings feels about this year. pic.twitter.com/5pWBOBjSPl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 14, 2025

Jennings Receives Support From Former NFL Scout

John Middlekauff, who is a former NFL Scout turned podcaster, had an interesting take on his podcasted title 3&OUT with John Middlekauff. The content producer has come out in full support of Jennings, considering the situation the 49ers are currently in.

He believes that Jennings holds all the right cards and that it is not fair to totally blame the player for wanting what he wants. Jennings, who is currently in the second year of his 2-year, $15.39 million contract, is asking for a new deal that will see him earn much more money.

According to Middlekauff, the contract that Jennings signed prior to his breakout 2024 season was on the money, but after producing at such a high level, catching 77 passes for nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, his market rate has gone up and deserves to be paid more.

Jauan Jennings first 3 seasons in the NFL:
• 45 games
• 78 catches
• 963 yards
• 7 touchdowns
• 50 first downs

Jauan Jennings last season:
• 15 games
• 77 catches
• 975 yards
• 6 touchdowns
• 47 first downs pic.twitter.com/qmvRm8KIsf
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) July 3, 2025

Middlekauff backs this notion, especially since the 49ers extended Aiyuk in 2024 after he had a similar season in 2023, where he caught 75 receptions for a little over 1,300 yards and 7 touchdowns. As per this logic, Middlekauff believes that Jennings has a valid case, even making the analogy that “Once you give the brother ice cream, the other brother wants ice cream too.”

“Do I think I’m a $30 million wide receiver? Probably not. But I’m definitely way more valuable than a $7.5 million wide receiver. And here’s the other thing. Coming into the season, Ayuik’s knee is torn. Ricky Pearsall is already injured. Like, I am clearly the number one wide receiver on this team heading into week one. Not even debatable. So, the going rate when I see that he wants a trade or a contract, you know, some additional money added to his contract, don’t totally blame him.”

“Once you give the brother ice cream, the other brother wants ice cream too.”@JohnMiddlekauff says Jauan Jennings is smart to push for a raise and the @49ers might have another holdout problem on their hands. pic.twitter.com/QdXhqZfiYj
— 3&OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) July 15, 2025

Looking at things from this point of view, it does make sense what Jennings is demanding. Now, the onus is on the 49ers whether to adhere to his stipulations or to end up trading him. If San Francisco goes with the latter, the path back to the top could face even more challenges in the upcoming season.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

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Devavrat Kulkarni

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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!