3. Janoris Jenkins, New Orleans Saints
Last December, the Giants released Jenkins despite the fact that he was the only cornerback on the team who could cover anybody at a credible level. Why? His social media flareup with a fan didn’t help, and his public frustration with how he was being utilized on the field by defensive coordinator James Bettcher most likely sealed his fate.
Perhaps Jenkins was barking too loudly for the Giants’ taste, but when on the field, Jenkins had an obvious point — he should have been traveling to cover his opponents’ best receivers, because again, he was the only person at his position who could do so. The Saints picked him up and rode Jenkins into the playoffs, and then rewarded him with a two-year, $16.75 contract extension in March. A pretty good deal for one of the league’s best zone cornerbacks in 2019 — that’s where Jenkins gave up just 15 receptions on 39 targets for 226 yards, no touchdowns, five interceptions (tied with Tre’Davious White for the NFL lead in zone picks), and a Positive Play Rate of 33.3% — the second-best rate in the league behind Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander.