SANTA CLARA – Kicking in $3 million in incentives this week to Jauan Jennings does not mean the 49ers’ contract drama is done.
It’s just on hold. For Jennings. For the 49ers. And for other pending free agents.
More business is to be done, although not necessarily before Sunday’s season opener at Seattle. And nothing nearly of the magnitude of this offseason’s ratified deals with Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Fred Warner.
General manager John Lynch did not rule out an in-season extension for Jennings. It’s a tactic the 49ers pulled off last November with cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (five years, $88.8 million), and just before the second game 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 said Thursday on KNBR 680-AM about a long-term extension with Jennings. “Some teams do have the policy once you hit the season they put the contracts away. That’s not something we’ve done.
“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 for free agency as he finishes out a two-year, $15.4 million (now $18.4 million) extension he signed in May 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 next season as their top two receivers, with Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins also in the mix. So Jennings re-signing might be far-fetched, though not impossible with a strong encore to last season’s career-best efforts (975 yards, 77 catches, six touchdowns).
Thus, the priciest player in line for an extension is not Jennings but rather right tackle Colton McKivitz, who has changed agents twice this offseason but is not clamoring for a deal before Sunday’s kickoff.
“It’s pretty open right now. Nothing crazy is going on,” said 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 at least double the $7 million extension he signed a year ago for this season. He switched early this year to Brock Purdy’s agent, Kyle Strongin, and more recently hired other representatives in Doug Hendrickson and C.J. LaBoy.
The market is booming for NFL right tackles. Since training camp, five right tackles have signed extensions worth $15 million to $22.5 million annually. That includes this week’s deals for Tampa Bay’s Luke Goedeke (four years, $90 million) and Seattle’s Abe Lucas (three years, $46 million). Earlier ones went to Green Bay’s Zach Tom (four years, $88 million), Atlanta’s Kaleb McGary (two years, $30 million) and Carolina’s Taylor Moton (two years, $44 million).
Said 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.”
Next year’s biggest cap hits – which could lead to revised or even bigger deals – are allocated to defensive end Nick Bosa and right tackle Trent Williams, who signed top-of-market deals in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Bosa’s $34 million annual pay is now dwarfed by the $46.5 million Micah Parsons fetched from Green Bay in last week’s Dallas trade.
While the 49ers weigh their options with Jennings and McKivitz, other potential starters or key contributors slated for 2026 free agency are defensive tackles Jordan Elliott and Kalia Davis, linebacker Luke Gifford, safety Jason Pinnock, running back Brian Robinson Jr., long snapper Jon Weeks and punter Thomas Morstead.
Jennings, no doubt, created the biggest stir on the financial front the past month, however. He missed five weeks of practice, both because of a calf issue and a contract quest.
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Lynch, at least publicly, endorsed Jennings’ approach 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 said. “He handled it in a good way. … Jauan did battle a calf injury, and he did want a new contract. Both things seemed to get right at the same time.”
Jennings returned to practice Monday, remained limited Wednesday and is expected 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 said. “He’s played a lot of football for us. His energy out there is palpable. We 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.”