After a week of reflection the New York Giants might have some questions for their newly signed star cornerback Janoris Jenkins. While many Giants fans are happy, a lot are contemplating if they overspent for the free agent cornerback. The feeling around the NFL is a definite "yes."
The Giants gave Jenkins a 5-year, $62.6 million deal with 28.9 million guaranteed. That roughly boils down to $12.5 million a season with $5.8 million guaranteed. That seems like a lot for a player who the Los Angeles Rams wouldn't even franchise tag. Instead the Rams opted to keep the infinitely more productive Trumaine Johnson by placing the franchise tag on him.
Johnson recorded a staggering seven interceptions in 2015, the most in his career, and he still only got franchised tagged. This places Jenkins within the top 10 in most expensive cornerbacks in the NFL and he's ranked seventh when it comes down to highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL.
Jenkins is only behind Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson and Darrelle Revis in terms of guaranteed money, but to be fair they have done a lot more in their careers. Jenkins' top skill is playing man-to-man; beyond that is anyone's guess. For instance, Jenkins cannot play in single coverage without getting help from a safety or cornerback on the back end of the play.
He has been getting beaten by wide receiver double moves since 2012 and has only forced 13 turnovers in his career. The first sound bite Jenkins gave the New York Giants when speaking about himself was "I need to stop being lazy at the end of games."
Jenkins has given up the third most yards to opposing receivers (2,989) and the third most touchdowns (22) since 2012. He is tied for 12th in interceptions and tied for seventh in passes defended with 34. These are hardly numbers that one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the league should produce. But wait, it gets worse.
Jenkins has broken up 48 passes in his first four seasons in the NFL, but he has never recorded more than four interceptions in a single season. His four-interception season came during his rookie year, and he has not gotten close since.
Only time will tell whether this signing was a good idea by the Giants, however if Jenkins can deliver it will be something the league has not yet seen before.
