The New Orleans Saints and free agent safety Malcolm Jenkins agreed to terms on a four-year, $32 million contract extension on Wednesday, reports Jordan Schultz of ESPN. Jenkins can earn up to $35 million over the life of the contract if he meets incentives for playing time and team wins, tying his personal success to the Saints’ overall success.
Additionally, $16.25 million of the deal is guaranteed at signing — the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reports that $9 million of those guarantees are tied to a signing bonus, which is prorated over each of the four years of the contract. While his exact 2020 salary cap figure can’t be calculated until later, this deal ensures Jenkins will be around in New Orleans for at least the next two years.
And that’s interesting considering the landscape of the Saints defense. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is looking to earn more playing time in his second season in the NFL, while Marcus Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract and would like to audition for a long-term commitment from the Saints.
If Jenkins is still able to play at a high level, he could push Gardner-Johnson to another position (like slot corner) or give the Saints an insurance policy in case they can’t work out a mulityear contract extension with Williams. It’s a smart move all around, and should help the defense remain a strength of the team in 2020.
