Philadelphia Eagles: Extending Malcolm Jenkins should be a no-brainer
Despite being 31, Malcolm Jenkins is still among the best safeties in the NFL, and the Philadelphia Eagles would be foolish not to offer him an extension.
As the start of the 2019 NFL season inches closer and closer, one player who hasn’t been at the Philadelphia Eagles‘ organized team activities (OTAs) is starting safety, and team leader, Malcolm Jenkins.
The reason for his absence? Reportedly his contract.
That’s right, according to ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Jenkins has been absent from team’s off-season activities for the first time in his career; leaving a gaping hole in the Eagles’ defensive secondary.
Eagles S Malcom Jenkins, who was not present for team’s off-season workout program for the first time in his career, also is a no-show today for the start of Philadelphia’s Organized Team Activities, per source. Jenkins is one of the NFL’s most-respected players; absence notable.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2019
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Not good.
Now on the surface, it isn’t particularly unusual for an NFL player to hold out over the summer in the hopes of securing a new contract, but typically that happens in a contract year.
Jenkins is not in a contract year.
After signing an extension in 2016 – two seasons into a three-year, $15.5 million deal – Jenkins still has the 2019 and 2020 seasons left under his current deal, with an average cap hit of $11.137 million. His 2019 number, about $11.4 million, ranks fourth on the team, trailing only Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Brooks, and Fletcher Cox.
So, what’s the deal? Why is Jenkins holding out for a new deal?
Well, a bunch of safeties around the league just got paid.
You see, before 2019’s free agent period, Jenkins was in-line to be the fourth highest paid safety in the league, trailing only Reshad Jones, Harrison Smith, and Devin McCourty, but after watching (mostly lesser) players like Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu, Earl Thomas, LaMarcus Joyner, and Adrian Amos all sign deals worth $9 million a season or more, it’s understandable for the ex-Ohio State Buckeye to feel a bit underappreciated.
Based on his track record, it’s pretty clear Jenkins isn’t the ninth best safety in the league, and being paid as such may be discouraging for such a versatile, prideful dude.
So, what is there to do?
Well, based on how things are going right now, it looks like Howie Roseman is hoping Jenkins returns once things get a bit more official later this summer, avoiding any sort of Le’Veon Bell-style holdout, but that doesn’t need to be the case.
No, based on the number, Jenkins could return to his former fourth spot on the list of the league’s fourth highest-paid safety with a $4.25 million raise, a pretty fair compromise for the Eagles’ most versatile, and vital defender.
However, Roseman is typically in the market of creating more cap flexibility, not giving it away.
Next. Gerald McCoy is the perfect fit at the worst time. dark
While it may be simple just to give Jenkins a pay bump, Roseman may instead opt to sign Jenkins to a contract extension; adding years, and money, to his contract while creating some flexibility moving forward. For a player like Jenkins, who should retire as a Philadelphia Eagle, this could give him the financial security he clearly craves, and for the team, it’s a chance to lock up a vital defender and look good in the eyes of players around the league. Seems like a win-win scenario for all parties involved.