The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent safety Rayshawn Jenkins, according to multiple reports Wednesday afternoon.
Jenkins was No. 90 on The Athletic’s free-agent rankings after he was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He provides an option for Seattle at safety after the Seahawks released two starters last week.
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How he fits: It’s too early to know how Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme will look, but Jenkins would appear to be best used close to the line of scrimmage so he can be around the ball as often as possible. He has good speed and is a strong tackler. This would be similar to how Seattle’s last two defensive coordinators used Jamal Adams, who was released last week as a cap cut. Pro Bowl safety Julian Love is similar in that regard, and that could be exactly what Macdonald is looking for: multiple safeties with comparable skill sets to better disguise coverages and dictate the terms on defense.
2024 impact: Seattle had to sign at least one veteran safety after releasing Adams and free safety Quandre Diggs. The team’s only other proven commodity at that spot was Love. Coby Bryant, a fourth-round pick in 2022, and Jerrick Reed II, a 2023 sixth-round pick, were other in-house options, but they’re inexperienced (and Reed is recovering from a torn ACL). The 30-year-old Jenkins brings a veteran presence to the defensive backs. That said, Adams and Diggs were three-time Pro Bowlers who at times garnered All-Pro votes, which speaks to their high ceilings when healthy. Jenkins doesn’t have that same ceiling, but Seattle is hoping it can get similar production at a lower price point. This move basically suggests that general manager John Schneider and Macdonald think Jenkins will provide better bang for their buck.
History: A fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, Jenkins spent four seasons in LA before joining the Jaguars in 2021. He has started all 17 regular-season games for Jacksonville over the past two years. In 2023, Jenkins had 101 tackles (seven for loss), one sack, nine passes defensed and two interceptions. His two interceptions were examples of his versatility. He was the middle-field safety on the first one, taking advantage of an errant deep pass by Gardner Minshew. The second turnover came when he was playing deep, then drove on an underneath pass thrown by Lamar Jackson. Jenkins is a good athlete who at his best can make plays all over the field.
Rayshawn Jenkins takes it away ‼️
📺: #BALvsJAX on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/8fWNSGquwb pic.twitter.com/2jL6VQawcK— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2023
Cap update: Seattle isn’t usually one to spend big on external free agents, and that’s likely the case with Jenkins, who was released by the Jaguars as a cap cut. Safeties also just aren’t breaking the bank in free agency; several veterans at the position were released in the name of cap space. Adams and Diggs were set to have two of the three highest safeties cap hits in the league. Without knowing the details of Jenkins’ deal, it’s safe to assume he won’t be nearly as expensive. His average annual salary will likely be seven figures.
Outlook: Signing Jenkins fills one starting spot on defense, and it means Seattle doesn’t have to prioritize the position in the NFL Draft. However, because of Jenkins’ age, he can be viewed only as a short-term solution. The Seahawks should still use the draft to find another long-term option. As for this season, Jenkins is a solid player who should make a few splash plays here and there, but there’s very little about his production over the years that suggests he will take Seattle’s defense to the next level.
(Photo: Melina Myers / USA Today)
