EAGAN, Minn. — Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison … say hello to Jauan Jennings.
The Vikings on Thursday agreed to terms with the 28-year-old receiver, who has been plotting his next move as a free agent since his 49ers contract expired last month.
Minnesota did not select a receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Jennings is another way for the team to make a splash.
Jennings started 15 games and recorded 55 catches for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns with San Francisco last season. He exploded onto the scene in 2024, setting personal bests with 77 receptions on 113 targets, and 975 yards. A seventh-round pick in 2020 (217th overall) out of Tennessee, the tall and strong wideout compiled 78 catches for 963 yards and seven touchdowns during his initial three seasons.
Overall, the 6-foot-3, 212-pound Jennings has recorded 210 catches for 2,581 yards (12.3 avg.) and 22 touchdowns. Additionally, Jennings has caught 23 passes for 289 yards and a score in 11 playoff games, and he has nailed both of his career pass attempts in the postseason for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Sidebar: Jennings double-dipped in the end zone in Super Bowl LVIII, catching a touchdown and throwing one as San Francisco fell in overtime to Kansas City. For what it's worth, the only other player with that combo is former Eagles QB Nick Foles, whose feats in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis earned him a statue.
Born in Cowan, Tennessee, which is about 100 miles southeast of Nashville, Jennings converted from quarterback to receiver and starred for the Volunteers from 2015-19; he ranks fourth in program history with 2,153 receiving yards, trailing Peerless Price (2,298), Marcus Nash (2,447) and Joey Kent (2,814). Jennings overlapped as college teammates for three seasons (2017-19) with Vikings safety Theo Jackson.
After spending his rookie year on the 49ers practice squad, Jennings took the majority of his 2021-23 snaps in the slot. He embraced a larger outside receiver role over the past two seasons, playing 70.3% of his snaps on the outside in 2025, according to analytics site Pro Football Focus, and he was challenged with 67 contested-catch targets in that two-year span — Jennings secured 39, winning 58.2% of the time.
Jennings has ranked in the Top 5 in the NFL in contested catches each of the past two seasons. In 2025, his 19 were bested by Puka Nacua (30), Michael Wilson (22), George Pickens (22) and Trey McBride (21); and in 2024, his 20 were topped by Terry McLaurin (25), Drake London (22) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (21).
Despite not suiting up for any action in 2020, Jennings ranks 10th in receiving yards among draft picks that year, behind Cole Kmet, Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney, Brandon Aiyuk, Jerry Jeudy, Michael Pittman, Jr., Tee Higgins, CeeDee Lamb and Jefferson. For context, Jennings was the 44th of 47 WRs/TEs drafted.
Jennings has functioned as a willful blocking asset throughout his career, too. He has earned a PFF run-blocking grade above 70 in three separate seasons: 83.5 in 2021; 77.2 in 2023; and 73.8 in 2024.
By the way, Jennings has snared nine balls for 115 yards and a TD in three career games against the Vikings.
Jennings will complement a receivers room, led by "Jets" and "J.A.," that recently said farewell to Jalen Nailor — paid handsomely by the Raiders in free agency — and includes 2025 third-rounder Tai Felton along with Myles "Jug" Price, who excelled as Minnesota's kick and punt returner as an undrafted rookie.
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