Tennessee Titans make surprising decision on Janoris Jenkins

As the NFL makes plenty of roster decisions this week in free agency, the Tennessee Titans made a surprising decision with defensive back Janoris Jenkins. The ten-year veteran cornerback was cut by the Titans on Tuesday, leaving Jenkins without a team currently and opening additional cap space for the Titans. The former Florida star played three years with the Gators before beginning his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams in 2012 as a second-round draft pick.

Titans cut Janoris Jenkins

Although Jenkins’ time with the Titans was short, the decision to cut him this season was a surprising one after he signed a two-year contract just last year. In one season with Tennessee, Jenkins started 13 games and played in 14, recording one interception, six passes defended and a forced fumble.

The move appears to be a purely financial decision as the Titans will reportedly save $6.9 million on this years cap, even with a $3.2 million dead cap charge.

Jenkins joined the Titans last season after spending a little over one season with the New Orleans Saints. Jenkins was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, and after four years he joined the New York Giants. After another nearly-four year stint with New York he joined the Saints. Jenkins has played in 142 career games and has 27 interceptions, 124 passes defended and eight passes returned for touchdowns over his career.

The Titans are looking to clear up their secondary after giving up the eighth-most passing yards in the league per game with 245.2 yards. Pro Football Reference noted that quarterbacks throwing at Jenkins last season had a 61.1 percent completion rate and a 100.2 passer rating. The inability to lock down receivers could certainly have been a factor in the Titans decision to not bring him back for the second year of his contract.