Chiefs Named Top Trade Partner for Emerging 49ers Playmaker
The Kansas City Chiefs have spent the past few years with a bit of a turnstile at wide receiver, but this year feels slightly different.
Rashee Rice is out on suspension for the first six weeks, Xavier Worthy is already recovering from a shoulder injury sustained Week 1 and Jalen Royals hasn’t been healthy enough to show what he can bring to the table.
Patrick Mahomes still has Travis Kelce as his security blanket, but the offense feels like it still needs someone else to help steady the ship. Enter Jauan Jennings.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named the Niners a top candidate to trade for Jennings, projecting the San Francisco 49ers WR’s trade value to be a fourth-round pick along with a 2027 fifth-rounder. Would this be the kind of move Kansas City should make? Let’s discuss.
A Look Back at Jennings’ Time With the 49ers
Drafted in the seventh round in 2020, Jennings spent his rookie year stuck between the practice squad and injured list before breaking through in 2021.
By then, he had carved out a role in San Francisco as Kyle Shanahan’s go-to on third downs. Fans and teammates alike dubbed him “Third-and-Jauan” for good reason: when the Niners needed a tough conversion, Jennings was generally the guy muscling through traffic to move the chains.
From 2021 through 2023, Jennings posted decent stat lines, but in 2024, with injuries hitting the 49ers’ WRs room, he leveled up and finished the year as a reliable secondary option. By season’s end, he had career highs in catches (77), receiving yards (975) and touchdowns (6).
Why a Trade to the Kansas City Chiefs Makes Sense for Jauan Jennings
For Kansas City, the fit feels like it could be a good one. Jennings has made his living on the same kinds of routes Andy Reid tends to favor: options, slants, digs. Add in his blocking on screens and outside runs, and you have a wideout who can help multiple facets of the Chiefs offense. He doesn’t need to post gaudy numbers to help; he just has to win his matchup on third-and-five or bury a cornerback to spring Isaiah Pacheco loose.
This isn’t about landing a superstar. Jennings has never been the fastest guy on the field or a showy playmaker. What he has been, consistently, is tough as nails. He’s the kind of receiver who makes defensive backs think twice about tackling him in the flat.
Then there’s the cap math, which makes the idea realistic. Jennings is playing on the final year of a two-year extension, with a 2025 cap hit of $4.25 million — just $1.17 million in base salary plus per-game bonuses. The heavy bonus proration already sits on San Francisco’s books, which means a trade partner would only take on the leftover base and incentives.
He has also battled injury issues this summer, so his medicals would have to be good.
Jennings may not be the kind of acquisition that sends fans sprinting to buy jerseys. But if Kansas City makes that call, don’t be surprised if “Third-and-Jauan” suddenly becomes a frequent chant at Arrowhead.
Kaprizov Turns Down $128M Deal, Opening Door for Capitals
The Washington Capitals find themselves in an interesting spot as they look ahead to next offseason, with Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson's contracts expiring and their futures in flux. All the while, some top names are set to hit the market, including Minnesota WIld Kirill Karpizov.
The Kaprizov situation has gotten interesting over the last 48 hours, as he reportedly turned down an eight-year, $128 million contract that would have made him the highest-paid player in NHL history.
Then, on Thursday, another report came out that the Wild officially requested Kaprizov's trade list, though The Athletic's Michael Russo and EliteProspect's Cam Robinson have officially shut down that report.
Looking at Kaprizov, he would be an interesting player for the Capitals to keep an eye on, especially with the Ovechkin era ending. The 28-year-old has 386 points in 319 games over five years in the NHL, including one 108-point season and three 70-plus point campaigns. He had 56 points in 41 games last year while dealing with injuries and having to undergo surgery.
If he doesn't want to re-sign with the Wild and wants to explore the market, Washington could be a desirable landing spot, with the team having a plethora of rising prospects and a strong future core led by Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Logan Thompson and more.
With Ovechkin and Carlson coming off the books in the coming years, too, the team would also have the money to offer Kaprizov a competitive salary.
Ultimately, nothing's guaranteed, but right now, there appears to be no plans on the trade front. So for now, it's just something for the Capitals to keep an eye on.
Scenes From Capitals Informal Skates Ahead Of Training Camp
As the Washington Capitals look ahead to training camp, they continue to get work in at MedStar Capitals Iceplex with informal skates.
Matt Roy and Logan Thompson were on the ice earlier in the summer as they stuck around the D.C. area, but over time, more and more players have joined the mix. Pierre-Luc Dubois and John Carlson have also been present for the last few weeks while helping lead the skates.
Alex Ovechkin joined earlier in the week, and Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Leonard, Brandon Duhaime, Nic Dowd, Hendrix Lapierre and more have also made their returns to the District.
The Capitals officially open camp next Thursday.
Here are some of our favorite shots from the skates so far.
