San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings was one of the biggest names set to hit the open market, and it’s a little surprising he has yet to find a new team. A seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Tennessee product overcame his low draft capital to become one of the most reliable weapons on the 49ers. While he’s no All-Pro, the wideout recorded 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 and followed it up with 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025.
Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is officially over, Jauan Jennings should start to receive some free agent interest. While some teams rolled the dice on wide receivers early in the event, the fact of the matter is that there simply weren’t enough good prospects to go around. Jennings is capable of making an immediate impact for any team that signs him, and Bleacher Report‘s Doric Sam believes the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers could make a move for the five-year veteran.
“The Los Angeles Chargers let veteran wideout Keenan Allen hit free agency, so they could turn to Jennings and keep him on the West Coast,” Sam writes. “…No other player [on the Panthers, aside from Tetairoa McMillan] had more than 400 receiving yards, so the Panthers would be wise to bring in Jennings as another target for quarterback Bryce Young, even after selecting Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell with a third-round pick.”
Chargers, Panthers Linked to Jauan Jennings After 2026 NFL Draft
The Los Angeles Chargers make all the sense in the world for Jauan Jennings. The team already has an above-average slot receiver in Ladd McConkey, but the rest of the depth chart could use some work. Former first-round pick Quentin Johnston is nothing special, Tre Harris didn’t do too much as a rookie, and while the team invested a fourth-round pick in Mississippi’s Brenen Thompson, they shouldn’t place too much faith in a Day 3 pick making an immediate impact.
Jauan Jennings is not a superstar, but he would be the second-best receiver on this depth chart. The Los Angeles Chargers need more offensive firepower to compete in what might be the NFL’s toughest division next year, and Jennings will help the team keep up in shootouts. With the interior offensive line finally addressed, the Chargers have the opportunity to finally win the division and a playoff game for the first time in the Justin Herbert Era.
The odds of Jauan Jennings landing with the Carolina Panthers likely depend on what the team thinks of former undrafted free agent Jalen Coker. While Coker’s final stat line (33 receptions, 394 yards, three touchdowns) leaves something to be desired, it’s worth noting he spent the early portion of the season battling injury. Once he was healthy, he became a vital part of the team’s passing attack. He also finished the 2025 season on a high note, recording nine receptions for 134 yards and one touchdown in the team’s Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
If the Panthers believe Coker can build on this performance, then they’d have no reason to sign Jauan Jennings. However, if they want the stability that comes with a veteran receiver, then they could pursue the 49ers free agent.
