Jets urged to pursue 49ers veteran to address biggest roster need

How have the Jets not made a single move at WR?

Charlie Baduini

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The New York Jets have done a good job of addressing their biggest roster needs this offseason, signing multiple veterans to address one of the league's worst defenses and signing Dylan Parham to replace John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker at left guard.

But there's one position that the Jets have yet to address, and that's wide receiver. New York's pass-catching corps was one of the worst in the league last season. Garrett Wilson is their lone star, and he still managed to lead the team in yards despite catching his last pass of the season in Week 6 against the Denver Broncos.

It was why general manager Darren Mougey was so aggressive in adding wide receivers at the trade deadline, bringing in Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie as throw-ins to larger deals. Mitchell flashed at times over the back half of 2025, but he seems best served as a complementary piece rather than a WR2.

The Jets must address the weakest position group on the roster right now, and there's still plenty of veteran talent available that could make the room better before the 2026 NFL Draft.

Former 49ers WR Jauan Jennings listed as Jets' best free agent fit

CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles named former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings as the best remaining free agent fit for the Jets, and for good reason.

"The Jets generally patched up their entire roster with dependable veterans. A dominant edge defender is probably the true answer to their greatest "need," but in terms of raising the floor, adding a reliable running mate to Garrett Wilson is a must. Jennings is as tough as they come and would fit well with Geno Smith."
Zachary Pereles

Jennings would be a much-needed veteran addition to New York's wide receiver room. Outside of Wilson and Mitchell, there are no proven players. 2025 fourth-round pick Arian Smith barely had a pulse last season, and Isaiah Williams is a return specialist at best.

The former 49er would immediately slide in as one of the Jets' starting receivers and give Geno Smith a sure-handed weapon to work with.

Jennings is coming off a career-high nine touchdown receptions in 2025 and hauled in 55 receptions for 643 yards. Spotrac expected a monster three-year, $67.8 million contract for the former Tennessee product in free agency, but considering he's yet to sign, his market may be smaller than expected.

If the Jets can get Jennings in the building on a short-term contract for less than the $22.6 million yearly salary he was projected to have, it would be another incredible add from general manager Darren Mougey.

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.