SANTA CLARA – Kicking in $3 million in incentives this week to Jauan Jennings doesn’t imply the 49ers’ contract drama is finished.
It’s simply on maintain. For Jennings. For the 49ers. And for different pending free brokers.
Extra enterprise is to be carried out, though not essentially earlier than Sunday’s season opener at Seattle. And nothing almost of the magnitude of this offseason’s ratified offers with Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Fred Warner.
Normal supervisor John Lynch didn’t rule out an in-season extension for Jennings. It’s a tactic the 49ers pulled off final November with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (5 years, $88.8 million), and simply earlier than the second recreation of the 2022 season with linebacker Dre Greenlaw and punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
“We obviously couldn’t come to an agreement on that right now but that not to say that’s gone,” Lynch mentioned Thursday on KNBR 680-AM a few long-term extension with Jennings. “Some groups do have the coverage when you hit the season they put the contracts away. That’s not one thing we’ve carried out.
“We are going to focus on going in to beat Seattle right now, but we’ll continue to try to work toward that.”
Jennings is poised without cost company as he finishes out a two-year, $15.4 million (now $18.4 million) extension he signed in Might 2024, a deal that bypassed his $4.9 million tender as a restricted free agent.
The 49ers are pot-committed to Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall subsequent season as their prime two receivers, with Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins additionally within the combine. So Jennings re-signing could be far-fetched, although not unattainable with a powerful encore to final season’s career-best efforts (975 yards, 77 catches, six touchdowns).
Thus, the priciest participant in line for an extension shouldn’t be Jennings however reasonably proper deal with Colton McKivitz, who has modified brokers twice this offseason however shouldn’t be clamoring for a deal earlier than Sunday’s kickoff.
“It’s pretty open right now. Nothing crazy is going on,” mentioned McKivitz. “Both sides have said they want to be here. I love being a part of this team, and they’ve reciprocated that. When it does come, it will and I’ll be excited.”
McKivitz stands to a minimum of double the $7 million extension he signed a yr in the past for this season. He switched early this yr to Brock Purdy’s agent, Kyle Strongin, and extra not too long ago employed different representatives in Doug Hendrickson and C.J. LaBoy.
The market is booming for NFL proper tackles. Since coaching camp, 5 proper tackles have signed extensions price $15 million to $22.5 million yearly. That features this week’s offers for Tampa Bay’s Luke Goedeke (4 years, $90 million) and Seattle’s Abe Lucas (three years, $46 million). Earlier ones went to Inexperienced Bay’s Zach Tom (4 years, $88 million), Atlanta’s Kaleb McGary (two years, $30 million) and Carolina’s Taylor Moton (two years, $44 million).
Mentioned McKivitiz: “That’s just the market. You’re seeing what the NFL is looking for, and that’s solid offensive linemen. For those guys to get paid, it’s great for me and all right tackles.”
Subsequent yr’s greatest cap hits – which may result in revised and even greater offers – are allotted to defensive finish Nick Bosa and proper deal with Trent Williams, who signed top-of-market offers in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Bosa’s $34 million annual pay is now dwarfed by the $46.5 million Micah Parsons fetched from Inexperienced Bay in final week’s Dallas commerce.
Whereas the 49ers weigh their choices with Jennings and McKivitz, different potential starters or key contributors slated for 2026 free company are defensive tackles Jordan Elliott and Kalia Davis, linebacker Luke Gifford, security Jason Pinnock, working again Brian Robinson Jr., lengthy snapper Jon Weeks and punter Thomas Morstead.
Jennings, little question, created the largest stir on the monetary entrance the previous month, nonetheless. He missed 5 weeks of follow, each due to a calf difficulty and a contract quest.
Associated Articles
New 49ers captain had phrases for Seahawks’ Smith-Njigba in March: “So I’ve got to back it up”
Our NFL season predictions: Division winners, round-by-round playoff picks and Tremendous Bowl MVP
Nick Bosa mentoring 49ers’ younger defenders whereas attempting to reclaim his personal dominance
49ers’ Jauan Jennings will get new contract incentives, will play in Sunday’s opener
49ers mailbag: Week 1 depth chart sparks barrage of questions from Devoted
Lynch, a minimum of publicly, endorsed Jennings’ strategy to this season.
“I want to commend Jauan, the way he took care of his business, both getting healthy and his want for a new contract,” Lynch mentioned. “He dealt with it in a great way. … Jauan did battle a calf harm, and he did desire a new contract. Each issues appeared to get proper on the identical time.”
Jennings returned to follow Monday, remained restricted Wednesday and is anticipated to play Sunday.
“He’s ready to go. He kept himself in really good shape. Is there going to be a little rust? Hopefully not,” Lynch mentioned. “He’s performed a number of soccer for us. His power out there may be palpable. We really feel it.
“We’re going to continue to try to work on a long-term deal,” Lynch added. “But right now we got something, a solution, that works for everybody for the short term, and that’s a good thing for the Niners.”
