Malcolm Jenkins

Jenkins carries some risk on a new team with age 33 coming up in December, but there might be a route for him to pass as a top-25 defensive IDP once more. He was more like a top-12 defensive back IDP in 2018, when he posted a career-high 97 tackles for the Eagles on 1,038 snaps, but his tackle total fell back down to 81 last year on 1,037 snaps. It's not clear whether he'll have access to such a snap count in New Orleans, but it's possible given the free-agent departure of Vonn Bell and New Orleans' interest in improving its nickel cornerback snaps. P.J. Williams really struggled there last year, and some combination of Jenkins and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson might play snaps there instead. Either way, Jenkins' turbulent career tackling production and general lack of interceptions (career high of three) make him best thought of as a punt pick at DB, one that might need a quick hook if his early playing time is concerning.

Jenkins' IDP viability has seesawed a bit throughout his career, as his two 90-tackle seasons were both followed by 70-tackle campaigns. A pessimist might reason that a down year is ahead after Jenkins posted his third 90-tackle season in 2018, but any regression won't be for lack of opportunity. Jenkins is locked into a three-down role and has played more than 1,000 snaps in four of his five years with the Eagles. He doesn't intercept many passes (career-high three), but he still has the playmaking knack with seven career touchdowns.

Jenkins is consistent at the very least. He has been an ironman since joining the Eagles in 2014, not missing a single game. This hasn't translated to fantasy production, however, as the eight-year veteran has eclipsed 80 tackles just once during his time in Philadelphia. While his tackle floor remains low, the 30-year-old still has some big-play upside, never failing to defend fewer than eight passes or make at least two interceptions since donning the midnight green. He is best utilized in IDP leagues as a week-to-week matchup play by owners in need of a home run.

Playing opposite Rodney McLeod, Jenkins saw his tackle production fall off a great deal in 2016, dropping from 109 in 2015 to just 72. Luckily for his IDP owners, Jenkins offset that with an extra interception and touchdown from the prior year. Jenkins has made a habit out of finding the end zone, scoring seven times in the last seven years, and he should continue to see turnover opportunities thanks to a likely standout Philadelphia pass rush. The fact that Jenkins has 80 or fewer tackles in three of the last four years generally indicates limited upside, however.

Although he's a fine selection in this range, Jenkins is a candidate to get overdrafted in IDP leagues. Last year's triple-digit tackle season is the only one of his career, and it took a towering total of 1,211 snaps to make it happen. That snap count will almost certainly fall, perhaps as much as by 250. Unless his tackle rate increases, the probable drop in snaps caused by coach Kelly's exit will lower Jenkins' tackle ceiling to the 90 range rather than triple digits. And while he somehow has five career TDs to his credit, Jenkins' career high of three picks implies limited playmaking upside.

Jenkins didn't show much IDP upside in 2014, his first season with Philadelphia, barely hitting the 80-tackle mark in 16 starts. The year before that, he posted just 68 tackles in 14 games. As a former cornerback, it makes sense that Jenkins would be used more as a centerfielder than an in-the-box tackling machine, but there's some hope for a bounce-back IDP effort from Jenkins given that he posted 94 tackles in just 13 games in 2012. Plus, he finished the 2014 on a strong note for his IDP owners, totaling 27 tackles in the final four games. It's also worth mentioning that Jenkins defended 15 passes last year, intercepting three, so he seems to have credible interception upside.

Although Jenkins saw a drastic drop in tackles from 94 in 2013 to 62 in 2013, he posted career-highs in sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles. The veteran admitted he needed to improve in the tackling department and will get plenty of opportunities to do so as he joins an Eagles defense that ranked dead last against the pass in 2013.

Jenkins will start at free safety with the Saints after recording 94 tackles but only one interception in 13 games in 2012. Yet with the Saints' historically bad defense, the Saints drafted S Kenny Vaccaro in the first round of the NFL draft. Jenkins starting position is likely safe in 2013, but expect Vaccaro to see early playing time in some capacity, which could limit Jenkins' fantasy value.

Many expected Jenkins to make the leap to stardom in his second full season at free safety. However, he remained stuck in neutral, making only a minor boost in tackles but failing to record a single interception. With a change in defensive coordinators, from the hyper-aggresive Gregg Williams to the more conservative approach of Steve Spaguolo, Jenkins should see a few more opportunities to put his ball-tracking skills to use.

In his first year as a starting safety, Jenkins contributed 64 tackles (54 solo), one sack and two interceptions (one that he returned for his first career touchdown). Jenkins is extremely skilled and should only continue to progress as he becomes more comfortable at the free safety position since transitioning from cornerback. Under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' aggressive scheme, Jenkins should continue to improve and produce solid turnover and tackle numbers.

2010 will serve as a transition year for Jenkins. As many predicted, Jenkins will make the move from cornerback to free safety and is viewed as the eventual replacement to Darren Sharper. This year, expect Jenkins to serve as a nickel or dime defensive back as he learns the safety position.

The Saints finally came to the conclusion that drafting a first-round corner for the first time since Alex Moldin in 1996 was a good idea. While many knocked Jenkins after a slow combine time, he brings tremendous playmaking skills to the secondary. Expect modest numbers out of Jenkins in his first year while showing flashes of his potential at multiple positions in the secondary.