Jordan Jenkins will play for a team other than the Jets for the first time in his NFL career next season.
The outside linebacker is signing a two-year contract with the Houston Texans, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson. Jenkins’ deal is worth $6 million with the chance to earn an additional $2 million, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
A five-year veteran, Jenkins was the Jets’ longest-tenured player. New York drafted him out of Georgia in 2016. With Jenkins now heading to Houston, zero selections from his draft class remain on the Jets roster. Marcus Maye, who was franchise tagged earlier this offseason, is now Gang Green’s longest-tenured player.
Jenkins’ departure doesn’t come as a surprise. He would have been a tough fit in Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s 4-3 base defense and was coming off just a two-sack season after totaling 15 from 2018-2019. Jenkins was limited to 12 games in 2020 and spent the end of the season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
For his Jets career, Jenkins tallied 189 tackles, 25 for a loss, 46 QB hits, 22.5 sacks, eight passes defended, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
