As we get started to have a flurry of news and rumors today as free agency officially begins, we have one that comes almost out of nowhere for the Arizona Cardinals. According to Fox Sports Radio 910's Mike Jurecki, the Arizona Cardinals are interested in cornerback Mike Jenkins, who played most recently for the Oakland Raiders.
Jenkins, a 6-0 200-pound veteran, was drafted in the first round in 2008 by the Dallas Cowboys and played there for five seasons. He started 48 games of the 71 he played while in Big D and he even earned a Pro Bowl trip in 2009, when he picked off five passes and defended 19.
He left Dallas to sign with Oakland, and did so on a one-year contract. He had been disappointing in his last couple of seasons. According to the report of his last season, he passed up mulit-year deals to sign with Oakland, hoping to improve his stock and hit the market again.
His story sounds a lot like Antoine Cason, who signed with Arizona last season on a one-year deal. Jenkins played in all 16 games, starting 15 of them. He logged 57 tackles, picked off two passes and forced a fumble. Pro Football Focus gave his play overall a -2.6 for the season and -7.5 in pass coverage. He was graded positively in coverage in only four games.