Late last week, there was word that the Jets and defensive end Jarvis Jenkins were closing in on a deal that would take Jenkins from Chicago to New Jersey for the 2016 season.
Jenkins’ agents announced Wednesday that the deal has been wrapped up. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that it is a two-year deal, rather than the three-year deal that had been reported last week, for $7 million. Jenkins has $3 million in guaranteed money.
Jenkins had 32 tackles and four sacks for the Bears in 15 starts last season. He’ll slot into a talented group of ends with the Jets that also includes Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams. Richardson may face league discipline for a 2015 arrest, which could mean an expanded role for Jenkins early in the season.
The Jets are also expected to finalize a contract with defensive tackle Steve McLendon, who would help them replace Damon Harrison at nose tackle after Harrison’s move to the Giants as a free agent. The Jets will likely have to make a corresponding move elsewhere on the roster to recalibrate the salary cap in light of the new arrivals.