Long before Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden graced the safety room alongside Derwin James it was Rayshawn Jenkins who played next to the All-Pro. The Chargers drafted Jenkins in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and he turned into a true standout player during his tenure.
After months of waiting for a new team in free agency, Jenkins has finally found his new home. Jenkins signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Monday and was not the only safety the team signed. Cleveland also signed former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee.
It looked liked Jenkins may have been on his way to getting forced out of the NFL. However, the former Charger has landed with a new team that certainly needs the safety depth.
Rayshawn Jenkins becomes the latest former Chargers player to sign
Jenkins spent the 2024 season with the Seattle Seahawks. The former fourth-round pick played in 13 games in what was a fines season. The Browns will be Jenkins' fourth team as he spent three years with Jacksonville Jaguars after leaving the Chargers.
Jenkins really came into his own in his last two seasons with the Bolts, recording five combined interceptions with 138 combined tackles. This set the stage for his Jacksonville tenure, where he played at his best. Jenkins played all 17 games in 2022, recording 116 combined tackles with three interceptions.
The list of former Chargers still on the market has shrunk but there are still several notable names available to sign. Keenan Allen is the biggest and while there was hope he would return to the Chargers, that hope has faded with time.
J.K. Dobbins is also still on the market but may return to the Bolts after the team slapped the rare UFA tender on him. If Dobbins signs elsewhere it will count toward the 2026 compensatory formula, but if he doesn't, he will return to the Chargers.
Gus Edwards, Eric Kendricks, Gerald Everett, Kyzir White, Linval Joseph and Austin Johnson are all on the market as well. It is unclear if, or when, any of those players are going to sign.
Jenkins shrunk the list of former Chargers on the market but his spot on the Browns is not guaranteed. With Kazee also in the fold, Jenkins will compete for every single opportunity he gets in Cleveland next season.