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We finally have the first news of a Chargers free agent signing elsewhere as it’s being reported that safety Rayshawn Jenkins is signing a four-year contract with the Jaguars, returning to his home state of Florida. The news was first broken by ProFootballTalk.
S Rayshawn Jenkins agrees to four year deal with Jaguars per source.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 15, 2021
This past season, Jenkins recorded a career-high 84 tackles and finished second on the team with two interceptions. In 2019, Jenkins led the team with three interceptions during his first year as a full-time starter.
Originally a fourth-round pick by the Chargers back in 2017, Jenkins spent the first two seasons of his career playing strong safety behind the likes of Jahleel Addae and Derwin James. Prior to the ‘19 season, he lost 15 pounds to compete for the team’s starting free safety spot. Due to injuries to James, Jenkins played the majority of the past two seasons at SS.
After Jenkins' 84 tackles and two INTs last year for Chargers, who tried to re-sign him, this deal should have good financial commitment behind it. https://t.co/sbVRkcdKLt
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 15, 2021
With the Chargers having recently invested a 2019 second round pick in Nasir Adderley, it was only a matter of time before James returned and the secondary became cluttered on the back end. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers did attempt to re-sign him, but the Jags simply outbid them for his services.