Los Angeles Rams: Can They Re-sign Janoris Jenkins?
The more things changes, the more things change. No franchise knows that more than the Los Angeles Rams, a team desperate to get back on the winning track.
It’s already been quite the offseason for the Los Angeles Rams and they haven’t even played a game in their newest (or oldest) home.
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Earlier this month, the franchise released veteran such as defensive end Chris Long, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and tight end Jared Cook.
On Sunday, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole broke the news that Los Angeles Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins had rejected a five-year $45 million contract offer from the team.
This somewhat surpsiring new broke less than 24 hours after NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported that Jenkins had fired his agent in favor of Schwartz and Feinsod, the same firm that negotiated current New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis‘ massive deal.
On top of that news, Jenkins is not allowed to hire the agency until he has separated from his previous agent for at least five days, making negotiations that much harder for the Rams.
Jenkins, who has never been shy of speaking his mind publicly, shared his own opinion of the contract offer on Twitter, feeling “lowballed” by the latest attempts at a deal.
Total disrespect when u held down one side all 4 years and force the ball the other way.. #ThanksButNoThanks
— JackRabbit2.0 (@JjenkzLockdown) February 29, 2016
According to the fine folks at Over The Cap, a deal averaging $9 million a year would place Jenkins among the top 12 at his position in annual salary.
Unfortunately for Jenkins, he doesn’t have much leverage. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicated Saturday that the Rams are “leaning toward” franchise tagging Trumaine Johnson, the corner opposite Jenkins in 2015.
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On top of that, the team has options behind Jenkins. E.J. Gaines, who started 15 games in 2014, returns after sitting out all of last year with Lisfranc injury, and the team has promising youngsters in Lamarcus Joyner and Marcus Roberson.
Spending an early-round selection on a corner in the 2016 NFL draft isn’t entirely out of the question either. The Rams currently own the 15th overall selection in this year’s first round.
Jenkins enjoyed a very solid season in 2015, totaling 64 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery while finishing second on the team with 15 passes defensed. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 24th-ranked player at his position in ’15 and was the team’s top cornerback. In four seasons with the Rams, he’s started at least 13 games each year and has returned five of his career 10 interceptions for touchdowns.
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As previously noted, the Rams have made what appears to be a very generous offer and Jenkins has rejected it. We certainly understand that’s all part of negotiations. Once again, the team still has fellow corneback Trumaine Johnson to re-sign as well.
Perhaps Jenkins would be wise to re-tweet himself from earlier this year when it comes to getting a deal done with his current club. In any case, it would perhaps be in the mutual interest of both the team and the cornerback to work things out. Stay tuned.