The San Francisco 49ers need help at the wideout position, considering Brando Aiyuk will likely be gone, and Jauan Jennings can test the open market in mid-March as a free agent.
Moreover, tight end George Kittle might not be ready for the start of the 2026 NFL season due to his Achilles tendon injury. Then there’s wideout Ricky Pearsall, who has potential but struggles to stay healthy. As a result, the Niners need to bolster their pass-catching options for Brock Purdy.
With the 49ers into their offseason and free agency on the horizon, The San Francisco Standard’s David Lombardi shared his take on a potential target that the Niners can pursue to begin reshaping their wideout position.
“I think, at receiver, if you’re the 49ers, that’s where you’re looking at multiple pickups, both through the draft and possibly through at least mid‑tier free agency,” Lombardi said in a Feb. 1 video published on his YouTube channel. “You face a lot of potential pitfalls at wide receiver with the separation issues that the 49ers have struggled with over the past two years.
“Romeo Doubs is a target I really like, formerly of the Green Bay Packers. His market rate might only be [$12 million] to [$15 million], especially if you can’t bring back Jauan Jennings because he costs closer to [$20 million]. Doubs could be a really, really nice pickup for the 49ers.”
Brock Purdy Wants Jauan Jennings to Stay With the Niners
If Jennings decides to leave the Bay Area, the Niners will need to find a replacement, which is why Lombardi suggests Doubs. Jennings had 55 catches for 643 yards and scored nine touchdowns in 15 games for the 49ers this season, per StatMuse.
With the situation regarding Brandon Aiyuk and the departure of Deebo Samuel last offseason, Jennings took advantage of his increased role with San Francisco. On Jan. 19, 49ers QB Brock Purdy made his feelings known that he wants Jennings back in San Francisco next season.
“I’m extremely hopeful,” Purdy told reporters (h/t 95.7 The Game). “He’s my guy and [I] love playing with him and everything that we’ve been through. He’s a war daddy that every time you step out on that field, man, you know you’re going to get your best and get everything from JJ. Obviously, I want my guy back.”
49ers Insider Talks Jauan Jennings’ Future
Ahead of free agency opening up in a few weeks after the Super Bowl, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco shared the latest regarding Jennings’ future with the 49ers.
“[The 49ers’] top free agent is Jauan Jennings, but there’s no guarantee that Jauan Jennings will be back on the team after the sides could not come to a contract resolution on a long‑term extension before the season,” Maiocco said on his YouTube channel on Jan. 18.
“You know, the numbers that I heard that Jauan Jennings and his representation were asking for—I don’t fault the 49ers, and I can see why there wasn’t a long‑term extension signed.
“So now that he is in line to hit the open market in mid‑March, the team can have an idea of what other teams value him, and then the 49ers can play off of that. Now that didn’t work out so well with Dre Greenlaw… But Jennings is definitely somebody the 49ers would like to have back.”
49ers Receive Huge Free-Agent Take Involving Romeo Doubs