Raiders reportedly interested in CB Mike Jenkins

This off-season, the Raiders have been actively filling positions on their defense with free agent signings. The one position in which they have a desperate need that has yet to be filled by an outside free agent is defensive back. More specifically, cornerback.

The team had visited with free agent corner, Terence Newman (who was also a Dallas Cowboy at one time), but Newman left without a contract and has yet to make up his mind about signing.

There are a few corners still on the market, one of them being Mike Jenkins, formerly of the Cowboys. At this point, the remaining free agents' prices are going down as they try and either find a long term home or simply a team on which they can prove they deserved to be more sought after.

Jenkins spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cowboys after the team made him the 25^th overall selection in the 2008 draft out of the University of South Florida. He lost his starting job last season and the team is moving on without him.

He had a great sophomore season in Dallas as the full time starter. He had 5 interceptions, an impressive 19 passes defended, and 49 combined tackles. Since then, he has struggled with multiple injuries and his play has fallen off. He had just one interception in each of the following two seasons and 17 total passes defended. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as one of the ten worst free agent corners on the market.

The Raiders interest would be mostly to do with a low asking price but also with the hope that a switch in scheme and scenery might bring him back to the form he showed early in his career and that which had him chosen as a first round pick.

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