The Arizona Cardinals desperately need some cornerback help and should target free-agent cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Last season defensive coordinator Vance Joseph got the Cardinals to finish seventh in passing yards per game (214.4).
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While Arizona finished seventh in passing, they did give up 30 passing touchdowns and let opposing quarterbacks complete 65.4 percent of their passes last season. These numbers must improve next season for the Cardinals to succeed.
Arizona had cornerbacks Robert Alford, Byron Murphy, and Marco Wilson leading the pass defense. Now Alford is gone, and their new addition Jeff Gladney passed away in a tragic car accident. But the Cardinals are strong at the safety position with Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson, so they could help the defense, but Arizona still needs to add another cornerback.
Bringing Jenkins would be an upgrade at the corner position for Arizona. Jenkins played 14 games last year for the Tennessee Titans while starting 13. Jenkins had 58 tackles, one interception, and six passes defended. According to Pro Football Reference, Jenkins gave up six touchdowns and 55 completions on 90 targets last season.
Even at 33, Jenkins is still a serviceable cornerback and could help the Cardinals’ secondary. Jenkins was responsible for the NFL’s third-most pass breakups, 43, from 2018 to 2020. The 11-year veteran is a ball-hawking cornerback that likes to make big plays.
Jenkins Career
Jenkins was drafted to the league in 2012 as a second-round pick of the then St. Louis Rams. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns in the 2012 season as a rookie, a record that Lions legend Lem Barney once held. From there, Jenkins went to the New York Giants in 2016, where he continued to play well. Jenkins was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro that season and then joined the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and 2020 before playing for the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
In 11 seasons, Jenkins has compiled 576 tackles, 27 interceptions, nine touchdowns, seven forced fumbles, and 124 passes defended. He would bring experience and playmaking ability to the Cardinals’ secondary.
