The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign Malcolm Jenkins after the Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with him, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
A reunion: The #Saints are close to a deal with safety Malcolm Jenkins — likely bringing back one of their former first-round draft choices and securing their back end. The #Eagles recently parted ways with Jenkins.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
Jenkins spent the last six seasons with the Eagles, but he started his career with the Saints. Jenkins was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Saints, and he was a standout during his five seasons in The Big Easy.
Instead of signing Jenkins to an extension the Saints instead decided to sign Jairus Byrd to a six-year, $56 million contract. Byrd wasn't exactly a standout with the Saints, and it's clear now they made a big mistake.
Back in 2019, Saints coach Sean Payton said he regretted letting Jenkins go:
“He was probably one of the most important parts to our Super Bowl run,” Payton said, via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. “And that was only his rookie season. He’s one of my guys, and I mean that. Probably one of the bigger mistakes that we’ve made, and you have to ask yourself ‘how did that happen?’ Letting him out of the building certainly wasn’t a smart decision.”
Jenkins flipped off the Saints sideline during a regular-season game in 2019, but Peyton felt no hard feelings no it was just a heat of the moment thing:
“I told him after the game that I love him,” Payton said. “And I know the feeling is mutual. I just have a ton of respect for him as a player, and also as a person. He’s a fantastic, fantastic player, and just as good of a person.”
Jenkins should come in right away and help improve a secondary that at times has been suspect.
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