After loading up on the offensive side of the ball by signing wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson and tight end Jared Cook, the Oakland Raiders offense is looking to be as formidable as last year’s, perhaps even more explosive. Behind franchise quarterback Derek Carr, the Raiders will be sure to put up points in a hurry during the 2017 NFL season.
While the Raiders are fortunate enough to have All-Pro edge defender Khalil Mack to anchor the defense, the team has plenty of room to improve. One important free agent decision they had to make was whether or not to resign linebacker Malcolm Smith. According to Raiders, the team decided to go in a different direction and replace Smith instead:
The Oakland Raiders have signed unrestricted free agent LB Jelani Jenkins, the club announced Monday.
Smith reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers worth $26.5 million ($11.5 million in guaranteed). The former Raider’s new contract was apparently too much for the team to commit to and found a cheaper and arguably just as a productive player in Jenkins. According to reports, Jenkins and the Raiders agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with only $100,000 in guaranteed salary. Oakland will have plenty of their cap space tied up in Carr and Mack and looking for bargain bin signings is a smart move.
Jenkins has spent his last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins after being selected by them 104th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He appeared in 53 games where he started 34 of them.
