Should Titans put in claim for Janoris Jenkins after getting cut by Giants?

Should the Tennessee Titans considering putting in a claim for Janoris Jenkins after he was cut by the New York Giants on Friday?

With injuries to their secondary, the Tennessee Titans could still be in the hunt for help at the cornerback position, and now that Janoris Jenkins has been cut by the New York Giants, he could be a potential target.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jenkins was cut by the Giants on Friday, and it comes just days after he went on an angry tweetstorm that resulted in him calling a fan a derogatory name.

While Jenkins did go on to apologize for using the word, Giants head coach Pat Shurmur did acknowledge the situation is what ultimately led to his release. And, this same situation in and of itself could deter some teams from bringing him in.

Jenkins’ relationship with the Giants was rocky before this, though. His frustrations with losing boiled over last week when he questioned how the team’s defensive coordinator was using him.

Despite his issues, Jenkins is an intriguing option for teams like the Titans that need secondary help. Jenkins was once considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and teams will wonder if he can return to that level of play with a much-needed change of scenery.

On the flip side of that, Jenkins hasn’t had a great season with an overall PFF grade of 64.4 that ranks him as the No. 55 CB in the NFL, and he has struggled ever since a sensational first season in New York.

He’s also currently dealing with a foot injury, which is why he carries the waiver/injured designation in the move by the Giants. The injury isn’t thought to be serious, though.

Any team that claims him will also have to pickup his contract, which still contains a vested option in 2020 that would pay him $11 million should he choose to opt in. Because of that, it’s more likely than not that Jenkins will pass through waivers.

As far as the Titans go, that vested option could be a major roadblock in claiming him. The team has a slew of free agents to address in the offseason and already has a ton of money invested in the secondary.

Of course, there is a chance that Jenkins could opt out and become a free agent instead, but taking a chance on that is a risky proposition to say the least.

Tennessee has been in need of help at cornerback since Malcolm Butler was placed on IR, and injuries to Adoree’ Jackson and LeShaun Sims necessitated the team picking up veteran corner Tramaine Brock off waivers last week.

Sims has practiced the last two days and appears on track to return in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, however the sample size for him as a starter is still small. We still don’t know what Jackson’s future holds, as he did not practice on either Wednesday or Thursday and looks like he’ll miss his second straight game.

Both Brock and Tye Smith performed admirably against the Oakland Raiders in Week 14, so the Titans might feel good about where they currently stand at the position, especially with Sims on the mend. However, any long-term injury to Jackson could change that rather quickly.

Regardless of what happens with those players, Jenkins would be bringing a lot of baggage to Nashville when you consider his declining play, injury and the reason he was cut by the Giants in the first place. And his contract situation is piled on top of that for any team that claims him.

The Titans will likely be deterred from claiming or signing him should he make it through waivers. Sure, he could end up being better than most of what Tennessee has at the moment, but this is one case in which the negatives outweigh the potential positives both now, and in the future.