Vikings Add A Receiver

When on the field, Jalen Nailor had provided the Minnesota Vikings with a solid third receiver option for the past couple seasons. His departure for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency left a significant need in the roster. The Vikings carried that need through the remainder of free agency and the draft. Many, including this guy, were surprised the Vikings didn’t select a receiver in the draft. It appears they might’ve had a solution all along. Last week, former San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings visited the spectacular TCO Performance Center for a little meet-and-greet. He left without a deal. The past week has been a week of waiting and hoping. Last night, the Vikings reportedly signed Jennings to a one-year deal. 

Early in the offseason, there were murmurs that Jauan Jennings was seeking WR2-type money. Yesterday, there were reports that the 49ers had presented a $17 million offer on the table during last season. If those were his financial targets, it seems money was the reason he was still unsigned in May. Jennings had a steady climb over his five years in San Francisco. He was a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. He spent his rookie season on the 49ers practice squad as he adjusted to the NFL. In 2021, Jennings made the roster, started a game, and posted five touchdowns. He made the best of his opportunity. For five years, he played in the receiver shadows of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. He took advantage of every opportunity and emerged as one of the league’s best blocking receivers. Jennings showed that he was much more than just a blocker on the game’s biggest stage. In Super Bowl LVIII, he caught a touchdown and threw for a touchdown as the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. He showed that he was much more than an effective blocker. He was a playmaker too. With over 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns, Jennings was one of the more productive receivers in the league over the last two seasons. Perhaps, his contract demands weren’t so lofty. 

Jauan Jennings’ one-year deal with the Vikings is for $8 million. Incentives can boost it to $13 million. That’s a remarkable bargain for a player with his skills and production. It appears he’s betting on those skills in the Vikings offense to get more lucrative offers next offseason. There was a time this offseason when Jennings was my dream receiver for the Vikings. With his contract expectations and the team’s salary cap restraints, it felt like an impossible dream. Now, the Vikings have the best receiver trio in the league. 

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jauan Jennings

That’s a lot of “Js.” It’s also a lot of receiving talent. With his blocking skills, Jennings also gives the Vikings the ability to go with a “heavy” personnel while still having a legitimate, downfield receiving threat. The free agency departure of Jalen Nailor was a significant loss. Adding Jauan Jennings flips that loss to a net gain.