Conventional wisdom suggests that the Minnesota Vikings reached a couple of times for players over the weekend, though the team’s NFL draft strategy stuck to a clear theme: defense-first with an emphasis on toughness. One sacrifice of that plan, however, came in the form of a No. 3 wide receiver the team never acquired.
However, Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote on Sunday, April 26 that the trade of pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles frees up Minnesota to pursue a more accomplished and ready-made option in the WR room than it could have otherwise.
“Trading edge rusher Jonathan Greenard cleared some cap space, so Minnesota could target a free-agent addition in the coming weeks,” Lewis wrote. “How much would the team be willing to spend? If it’s enough, perhaps a player like former [San Francisco] 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings could become an option.”
Spotrac projects Jennings to earn approximately $68 million on a new three-year contract. He is arguably the top pass-catcher available in free agency as late April gives way to early May and more preseason work across the league approaches on the near horizon.
The Vikings have a little more than $16 million in available cap space as of Sunday.
Jauan Jennings Offers Complementary Skill Set Alongside Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison
GettyWide receiver Jauan Jennings, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers.
Jennings will play next season, his sixth in the league, and 29 years of age. His last two campaigns in San Francisco marked his NFL breakout, as Jennings tallied 127 catches for 1,618 yards and 15 TDs across 30 games played (25 starts) in that stretch.
The wideout’s game is gritty and defined by toughness. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan moved Jennings around the field over his five years in the Bay Area and relied heavily on him as one of the best blockings receivers at the position as his role expanded with each passing year.
Jennings would complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison well in Kevin O’Connell’s favored three-wide receiver sets as a physical target with a knack for extending possessions and finding the end zone. He would also prove an asset in the run game given his effort and prowess as a blocker.
Keenan Allen, who could do some of the same things for the Vikings as Jennings, is also an option in free agency. The 13-year veteran will play next season at 34 years old, but he also has a projected market value of $7 million over just a one-year contract.
Jauan Jennings Could Prove Replacement for Jordan Addison
GettyMinnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison.
An interesting point of discussion is that the team just exercised the $18 million fifth-year option on Addison’s deal for the 2027 campaign. However, if he continues to struggle with off-field issues and his play remains at an adequate — though far from elite — level, Jennings could provide the option for Minnesota to move on from Addison.
Addison should have Day 2 trade value either this season before the deadline or next offseason if he can bounce back from a mediocre year in 2025 of 42 catches for 610 years and three TDs.
Addison exploded into the league during his rookie campaign in 2023 with 70 receptions for 911 yards and 10 scores, but has seen his target totals, catches, receiving yards, overall TD numbers and games played decline in every year since.
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