The Minnesota Vikings went with Jauan Jennings to fill that WR3 role that became vacant with the departure of Jalen Nailor this offseason. Jennings signed a one-year contract worth up to $13 million on May 7 with the Vikings, per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Last season with the San Francisco 49ers, Jennings posted a 68.3 overall PFF grade, finishing with 55 catches on 88 targets for 643 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 11.7 yards per reception. Furthermore, he recorded 180 yards after the catch and had three drops over the course of the season.
As a result, Minnesota are getting a player who is more than capable of being the No. 3 guy on the depth chart. On May 8, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke with the media and explained why Jennings made sense for them.
“When you’re one of the few players who might be single-covered in man-to-man coverage, you’ve got to be able to win,” O’Connell told reporters. “You’ve got to be able to make contested catches, and you’ve got to be able to do something with it after the catch. Jauan does all those things.
“I think Vikings fans are going to fall in love with watching this guy play football. Just the passion and the physicality that he plays with. You can tell I’m excited about it and can’t wait to get him here.”
Jauan Jennings’ Impact on Minnesota’s Run Game
Moreover, Jennings brings more to the Vikings offense than just being another pass catcher. The former 49ers wideout can be a major help in the rushing attack, and O’Connell shared his thoughts on this aspect of the player’s game.
“There are some unbelievable clips over the years of him not just doing his job,” O’Connell added. “That would be a wild understatement. There’s an emphasis with him that he wants to go out and play with a certain style of football that I think we’ve seen at times with different guys over the years, and we’ve kind of pieced the room together in different ways to maximize each guy’s skill set.
“That’s what’s so exciting about Jauan. He truly is a combo receiver who can line up on the ball as a single; he can line up in formations with other receivers, stacks, and bunches. He understands how it all works together, from marrying the run and the pass and how the jobs you do in the run game can directly lead to targets in different phases of the offense.”
Jauan Jennings Gives the Vikings Depth at WR
Last season with the Niners, Jennings was asked to step up due to injuries for Ricky Pearsall and with the situation surrounding Brandon Aiyuk. When San Francisco’s receiver group was tested, Jennings became a steady option for Brock Purdy and helped keep the offense moving.
The Minnesota Vikings already have their top two receivers in place. Nonetheless, if injuries hit, O’Connell now has another layer of trust in the room, knowing Jennings can handle an expanded role and help stabilize the group.
“I think it’s a matter of a veteran player who has clearly shown on tape over the years that he can make a great impact in multiple roles,” O’Connell said. “It gives us depth; it gives us the ability to overcome any potential injuries that may pop up along the way.
“It also sets a great standard for the room with having Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and then a bunch of really young players we’re really excited about and want to let grow, develop, and compete.”
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