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According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jaguars have agreed to terms with former Los Angeles Chargers safety Rayshawn Jenkins on a four-year contract.
Update: Contract details for Jenkins have been reported by the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson.
Rayshawn Jenkins (Jaguars) four years, $35M, $16M gtd, $8M signing bonus, salaries $1M (gtd), $7M (gtd), $7.25M, $7.75M, annual $500K workout bonus, annual $1M Pro Bowl incentive, annual $500K per-gam active roster bonus, $500K playtime base escalator 2023 or 2024
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 16, 2021
Jenkins, 27, has spent the past four years with the Chargers after originally being selected by the team in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He started 15 out of 16 games last season while starting all 16 games for the Gus Bradley-led defense.
In total, Jenkins has accumulated 174 tackles (115 solos), seven tackles-for-loss, nine pass breakups and five interceptions, all five have come in the past two seasons.
Last season, Jenkins finished the year with 84 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and a sack.
Originally from St. Petersburg (Fla.), Jenkins will have an opportunity to play closer to home and likely an opportunity for a permanent starting role with the Jaguars. According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins posted a 68.9 grade, good for the 25th-best in the NFL.
He has played both single-high and strong safety for the Chargers, rotating as the team’s free safety in 2019 before becoming the team’s strong safety and dime backer last year due to the absence of star safety Derwin James.
Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer made it clear earlier this month that the team would need to address its secondary. While the team feels comfortable with at least second-year player CJ Henderson, the team’s head coach didn’t mention any other names, leaving a thought that all other positions are up for grabs.
“Our defensive secondary needs to be revamped in a few spots,” said Meyer. “We’re still evaluating what you have and what’s available and that’s a big part of where we’re at right now.”
The Jaguars have now reportedly agreed to terms with multiple free agents, including receiver Phillip Dorsett, running back Carlos Hyde, safety Rudy Ford, return specialist Jamal Agnew and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. In addition, the team has reportedly re-signed defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot.