Why Jauan Jennings Will Have a Breakout Season

The more Jennings produces this year, the better the compensatory pick the 49ers will receive when he leaves.

Every season, it seems at least one player on the 49ers who's in a contract year plays out of their mind.

Last season, it was Brandon Aiyuk. A couple years before him, it was Deebo Samuel. And a couple years before him, it was Arik Armstead. All three players raised their game significantly right before it was time to get paid. And this year, Jauan Jennings will do the same.

Truthfully, Jennings raised his game in the playoffs, particularly in the Super Bowl, when he caught five passes, scored one touchdown and threw a touchdown pass. That was his breakout performance. Now he's a restricted free agent, and he will stay with the 49ers for one more season unless a team makes him an offer and gives the 49ers a second-round pick, which seems unlikely.

Next year, Jennings will be an unrestricted free agent and the 49ers probably won't re-sign him -- he's good enough to start on another team and will get paid accordingly. In the meantime, the 49ers need to get their money's worth in his final season with the team.

The more Jennings produces this year, the better the compensatory pick the 49ers will receive when he leaves, so it's in their interest to give him the ball. In addition, the 49ers were going to release Kyle Juszczyk this offseason until he took a pay cut, so it seems his playing time could decrease while Jennings' increases, which would be smart because Jennings is much more dangerous than Juszczyk at this point in their careers.

Look for Jennings to catch more than 40 passes next season.