Bhan-“Jennings struggles, injuries, and a rocky relationship with Shanahan have the 49ers thinking ahead — could a trade to Washington bring back the high-upside Luke McCaffrey? 💥🏈”
Washington Commanders v Los Angeles Chargers | Luke Hales/GettyImages
The San Francisco 49ers have been connected to a lot of defensive players in trade talks, but perhaps they should be thinking more about the future of their offense, which is why a deal with the Washington Commanders could make sense.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings has been playing through injuries and got into a big sideline spat with head coach Kyle Shanahan on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jennings told reporters to ask Shanahan about the spat while the head coach downplayed any tensions, but it is clear the wide receiver is disgruntled.
Jennings has missed some games due to injury, but he only has 10 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown on the season. He made a big stink about his contract last offseason and is going to be a free agent following this season, so maybe it is time for the 49ers to try and get something out of him instead of just losing him in free agency.
That is where the Commanders could come in as a natural trade partner.
49ers can pull off Jauan Jennings-sized trade with Commanders
The Niners already traded Deebo Samuel to Washington earlier this year, and maybe they could trade Jennings to the Commanders in exchange for the young wide receiver, Luke McCaffrey.
The brother of Christian McCaffrey has been turning heads this season. The second-year player only has eight catches on the year, but he has made the most of them as he has 179 receiving yards and three touchdowns and has made some highlight-reel grabs.
Is there a way San Francisco could send Jennings to the Commanders in exchange for McCaffrey?
It would be difficult, given the fact Jennings will be a free agent and is clearly banged up, but at his best, he is a scrappy and tough wide receiver who could give swagger to any offense. With Washington at 3-3, maybe he is a missing piece who could elevate the team’s offense.
In order to get McCaffrey, the Niners would probably have to give up Jennings and maybe one of the fourth-round picks they have in the 2026 NFL Draft. It would not be a bad deal considering the 49ers will probably have to draft a receiver in next year’s draft anyway, and they would be thrilled to get someone with McCaffrey’s upside in the fourth round.
Washington may be reluctant to pull the trigger on something like this, but the 49ers need to start looking ahead to next year with the injuries to Fred Warner and Nick Bosa on defense making success in 2025 seem fairly unlikely.
Trading for McCaffrey would set the Niners up nicely for the future at wide receiver and would have the added benefit for uniting the McCaffrey brothers.
