It wasn't all that long ago that Philadelphia Eagles GM/not GM Howie Roseman caused a bit of a stir by saying that "if you're drafted by" the Eagles and you play well you'll be rewarded with a lucrative long-term deal. The stir wasn't particularly big because, well, the underperforming Eagles, set for Year One under Doug Pederson, don't really have many veterans who joined the team via free agency in need of new contracts. Except, of course, for safety Malcolm Jenkins. And while there had been suggestions that Jenkins, who was a first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints, may not land a new deal with Philly, the opposite has come true. On Monday, the Eagles announced a new five-year deal for their do-it-all defender.
UPDATE, 3:10 p.m.: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that it's actually a four-year deal worth $35 million with $21 million in guarantees. Jenkins will now make $10 million in 2016, instead of the $7.1 million he was scheduled to make, though his cap hit has dropped to $5.6 million.
The new deal, which erases the final year of Jenkins' three-year contract he signed in free agency, will take him through the 2020 season.
Already this offseason, the Eagles have locked up a number of young players, starting with tight end Zach Ertz and continuing on through offensive tackle Lane Johnson and defensive end Vinny Curry. They also locked up veteran tight end Brent Celek on a deal that, much like Jenkins' probably does, lowered his cap hit for 2016 (about $7 million) and keeps him in midnight green for the remainder of his NFL career.
Jenkins, 28, is just as deserving, if not moreso, than the young Eagles of a new deal. He made it clear during Super Bowl week that his preference was to remain in Philly beyond 2016.
"Believe me, I'm waiting. I'm trying to get in line just like everybody else," Jenkins said then, per Jeff McLane of Philly.com. "That's something I can't control. But I'm definitely interested in staying. I want to be in Philly long-term."
Jenkins, drafted as a corner by New Orleans, has turned himself into a quality NFL safety. He played well during his first season in Philadelphia, but elevated his game last year, earning his first Pro Bowl bid in the process.
He's an extremely versatile player able to line up down in the box as a run defender, but also able to excel against the pass. He's also become one of the Eagles' most trusted veteran leaders.
Keeping him seemed a no-brainer for Philadelphia, but in an offseason of change, just about anything also seemed possible.
