Any leverage the Philadelphia Eagles held over Malcolm Jenkins was lost the moment the organization chose not to address the safety position in the draft or the first round of free agency. Jenkins, the Eagles most valuable player and most versatile at times, could be the difference between a Super Bowl run and another playoff collapse. Jenkins knows that which is why he’s been a no-show at organized team activities and could take his absence into the summer.
According to Over The Cap, the 31-year-old Jenkins is due $8,100,000 in 2019 and $7,600,000 in 2020, the final year of his deal.
Jenkins is in the voluntary portion of the offseason so things aren’t that serious yet, with the first mandatory session being the team’s three-day minicamp in mid-June. At that point, the Eagles could choose to fine Jenkins, and he could lose upwards of $88,630 in fines according to the CBA. Any training camp days missed could be fined $40,000 per day.
Jenkins deserves to get a bonus or upfront money, even if the Eagles choose to not give him a new deal considering his age and the amount of physical play placed on his body. Jenkins has played 3,003 snaps over the past three seasons at several positions, even linebacker. Without Jenkins, the Eagles would have Andrew Sendejo, Rodney McLeod and Blake Countess at safety. All are solid choices, but none have the overall effect on his team the way Jenkins does. His leadership has no value and his absence could be detrimental to the goals of the Eagles if he’s not around nor taken care of.
