Oakland Raiders cornerback Mike Jenkins (21) on a 5-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Giants defeated the Raiders 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been incredibly aggressive this offseason, and they’ve had a pair of huge steals in free agency by signing Clinton McDonald and star CB Alterraun Verner to very team-friendly contracts. There’s no doubt that the Buccaneers are a much better team going forward under Jason Licht and Lovie Smith, even though they will miss Mark Dominik’s cap management a bit. It’s been nothing short of a dream offseason for the Buccaneers, and they aren’t done yet. Not only did they sign underrated backup linebacker Dane Fletcher, who will have a shot at competing for a starting gig next season, to a one-year deal, but they are also interested in another cornerback.
Per a source close to Yahoo! Sports’s Rand Getlin, former Oakland Raiders cornerback Mike Jenkins will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to sign him. Verner and second-year pro Johnthan Banks should form a solid cornerback duo with Smith-favorite D.J. Moore figuring to get slot snaps, but they could use another CB to add to the mix.
Jenkins has plenty of tools, but he’s been a huge disappointment ever since peaking in 2009 with 19 passes defended, and he’s one of the most burn-prone corners in the league. But the 28-year-old is also an intriguing reclamation project, and I would be fine with the Buccaneers taking a flier on him by signing him to a cheap, one-year deal. If he does sign with the Bucs, then I’m sure those would be the terms, and he would have a shot at competing for a slot gig or an outside role against multi-WR sets.
Minuscule-risk, solid-reward deals are the name of the game in this quieter wave of free agency is the name of the game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Buccaneers aren’t the only quiet suitor looking to possibly take a flier on Jenkins.