New Orleans Saints defensive back Malcolm Jenkins told Ryan Clark that he is retiring after a 13-year career in which he won two Super Bowls and made three Pro Bowls. The 34-year-old was originally drafted in the first round (14th overall) by the Saints and spent his first five seasons playing in New Orleans before joining the Philadelphia Eagles for six years. Jenkins returns to the Saints the last two years and will walk away with 1,044 tackles (804 solo), 51 tackles for loss, 35 QB hits, 13.5 sacks, 21 interceptions (seven for touchdowns), 110 passes defensed, 20 forced fumbles and 11 fumbles recoveries (one for a TD) in 199 career games (191 starts). Jenkins' retirement will leave a leadership void in the Saints secondary.
The New Orleans Saints restructured the contracts of safety Malcolm Jenkins and offensive lineman Andrus Peat on Wednesday, opening $3.4 million and $6 million, respectively, in salary cap space. The Saints continue to make moves to create more room against the salary cap, with Jenkins and Peat becoming the sixth such move for the team ahead of free agency on March 17. The moves will convert base salary to signing bonuses for both players, which allows the Saints to spread the salary cap charge over the remainder of the contracts. Jenkins was due to make $6.2 million in base salary in 2021 with a cap charge of $8.95 million. Peat is entering the second year of a five-year extension. He was scheduled to make $9 million in base salary, which was fully guaranteed.
New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins is concerned about the risks to players that will inevitably come with the NFL's return to play during the coronavirus pandemic. "I think until we get to the point where we have protocols in place, and until we get to a place as a country where we feel safe doing it, we have to understand that football is a nonessential business," Jenkins said. The veteran safety certainly isn't the only one worrying about the risks involved with a return to play, as Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott also voiced his apprehensions about the NFL's season. As the most contact-heavy sport, the NFL will have to be vigilant on handling any positive tests if they want to have a full season. The league is slated to meet with teams on Thursday to discuss reopening facilities.
The New Orleans Saints signed safety Malcolm Jenkins to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday. The Saints drafted Jenkins in the first round in 2009 and were always upset that they let him walk after four years to begin his career. He went on to play in every game for the Eagles the last six seasons. Jenkins will bring veteran leadership and a ton of versatility to the team's secondary as they look to make a Super Bowl run in what will likely be quarterback Drew Brees' last season. New Orleans' defense/special teams is certainly a unit on the rise.
The New Orleans Saints are close to a deal with safety Malcolm Jenkins. The Eagles declined to pick up Jenkins' 2020 team option, making him a free agent on Tuesday. The Saints took Jenkins with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 draft and he played with them for five seasons before going to Philadelphia, where he started in every game for the last six seasons and made three Pro Bowls. The versatile defensive back would be a nice prize for a defense that was very strong in 2019. Jenkins would bring veteran leadership to the back end after tallying 81 tackles (63 solo), six tackles for loss, nine QB hits, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2019.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they will not pick up safety Malcolm Jenkins' 2020 contract option. Jenkins, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles, started every single game for the team for the last six seasons. He had 81 tackles (63 solo), six tackles for loss, nine QB hits, eight passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last year. The 2019 season was the first time since 2011 that he failed to record an interception. Jenkins will turn 33 this December but should have plenty of suitors on the open market given his track record of excellent health. The re-signing of defensive back Jalen Mills on Tuesday opened up the door for the Eagles to part ways with Jenkins.
Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said he "won't be back under the same deal" in 2020. The 32-year-old three-time Pro Bowler has one year left on his deal but has voiced his displeasure with his contract before. He continues to be a valuable member of the team's secondary, though, with 81 total tackles (63 solo), 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2019. Jenkins just finished up his sixth season in Philadelphia and has played a full 16-game schedule in all six seasons with the team.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins underwent thumb surgery to repair ligaments in his left thumb. Jenkins himself described the procedure as "offseason maintenance" and he does not expect to miss any time leading into the 2018 season. Jenkins is one of the league's best safeties and should continue to anchor a strong Eagles secondary next season.
Malcolm Jenkins
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Saints
