A slew of free agent cornerbacks are now slowly but surely being swooped off the market. Multiple teams are in need of upgrades in their secondary and after Nnamdi Asomugha, the biggest name in the position was signed by San Francisco, it opened the door for other players to gain notice. Former Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins is officially off the market now as the ESPN reports he has signed with the Oakland Raiders.
Multiple teams were showing interest in Jenkins. He was a first-round pick back in 2008 and had a Pro Bowl appearance in 2009. He has been hampered by multiple injuries throughout the last couple of years, slowing down his production. Teams like the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars brought in Jenkins for a work out but the Raiders were the only team to offer him a multiyear contract.
Oakland had been looking for another defensive player after the release of linebacker Rolando McClain. The team was in need of a better cornerback following the departure of Nnamdi Asomugha and several mediocre players attempting to play the position. Pairing Jenkins with newly signed Tracy Porter could give Oakland a boost in the pass defense that they have been looking for.
The one thing that could make this signing useless is injuries. Both Jenkins and Porter do not have the best track record when it comes to overall health. Porter has never played more than 14 games a season and Jenkins is coming off a season where he only played two games. If Oakland can get those two back to top shape, the signing will be worth it.
With Jenkins signed, that leaves Antoine Winfield still searching for a team. While reportedly four teams are interested in Winfield, the Washington Redskins have emerged as the strongest contender. The Redskins are on the verge of being the team to beat with quarterback Robert Griffin III and Winfield would only add to the power house. Winfield could play alongside DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson in the nickel spot.
The Redskins have little to no financial flexibility would could take them out of the running for Winfield if another team gives him a better offer. Washington is already over the cap after signing Hall. They would have to get creative in order to sign Winfield as well. The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings have all expressed interest in the cornerback so it is only a matter of time before he signs as well.
