9/12 - Risk vs. Reward

[Scott Wright]

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Risk vs. Reward
http://draftcountdown.com/blog/archive/sept11.php#sept12

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[Scott Wright]

Where does everyone think Jenkins will eventually end up being selected?

If I had to venture a guess right now, I'd say late first or early second round.

[jrdrylie]

I think he'll be taken in the late first. Playoff teams can afford to take the risk on him.

[RaiderNation]

I think he will be rated similar to what Jimmy Smith was this year. Some see him as a mid 2nd, some as a mid/late 1st. A playoff team like the Steelers could risk it since they have a huge need at CB and a strong lockeroom

[Scott Wright]

I'm often asked for player comparisons and Jenkins reminds me of Asante Samuel.

[Byrd430]

I would gladly take him without hesitation. I love Jenkins and would love to have him on the team. His off-field troubles concern me, of course, but I don't really see it becoming a huge problem in the NFL, particularly if he goes to a well-disciplined program.

As a prospect, purely, I see few weaknesses in his game. He's able to play with bigger receivers constantly and shuts them down. His small size may drop him a bit, so I honestly could see him dropping into the second round. You compare him to Smith, who had off-field issues similar (but not as severe) as Jenkins. Jimmy Smith was still 6'2 and physically could match up in the NFL against many receivers.

[JHL6719]

If he was a clean kid I think he'd be a top 20 pick. Honestly, he's one of the best cover guys I've seen. Jeezus this kid is good.

But you have to wonder about a guy who keeps getting arrested for making the SAME, EXACT mistake over and over and over again.

Put the ****ing weed down already you moron. Good grief son, life is not a ****ing rap video.

That said, he's not out there Pac-Man(ing) it up either. I think I can work with this kid and help him make better decisions.

I wouldn't let him slip by me in the early part of the 2nd round. He's just too damn good, and good corners are hard to come by, not to mention extremely valuable nowdays.

[jrdrylie]

I would gladly take him without hesitation. I love Jenkins and would love to have him on the team. His off-field troubles concern me, of course, but I don't really see it becoming a huge problem in the NFL, particularly if he goes to a well-disciplined program.

As a prospect, purely, I see few weaknesses in his game. He's able to play with bigger receivers constantly and shuts them down. His small size may drop him a bit, so I honestly could see him dropping into the second round. You compare him to Smith, who had off-field issues similar (but not as severe) as Jenkins. Jimmy Smith was still 6'2 and physically could match up in the NFL against many receivers.

I do see his off-field troubles possibly becoming a huge problem. He got caught with weed. I can forgive that. but for it to happen again just a few weeks later? Either he is an idiot or he has a drug problem. Probably a little bit of both. Combine that with the fact that he is going to have more money and more free time on his hands when he goes to the NFL, I could easily see him being suspended for violating the league drug policy. In fact, if there was a pool going of which prospect tests positive for drugs at the combine, I'm putting my money on Jenkins.

[tjsunstein]

How often do you hear of kids that have off the field concerns such as Jenkins getting in trouble again in the NFL? Aren't prospects like this not as far and few between as we think? I'm taking him no later than early second. Once he gets out of college and into an NFL locker room where the same mistake will be career threatening, he will realize the severity of the consequences. Hopefully. Because this is not something to play around with in Goodell's league.

[RaiderNation]

I wasn't comparing his play to Jimmy Smith, but more of what his value would look like once draft day hits us.

[niel89]

How severe are his character problems? And how high would he go if he had no character concerns?

[Shane P. Hallam]

How often do you hear of kids that have off the field concerns such as Jenkins getting in trouble again in the NFL?

Taking just CBs you can see Pacman Jones, Perrish Cox, etc.

[Scott Wright]

Taking just CBs you can see Pacman Jones, Perrish Cox, etc.

Aqib "Weed" Talib

[tjsunstein]

Taking just CBs you can see Pacman Jones, Perrish Cox, etc.

Aqib "Weed" Talib
In comparison to how many have been drafted, it really is a low number. Plus, Pacman is the one that's really hurt himself and he had to be really dumb to be disciplined. Cox's problems didn't revolve around weed, and that's where I feel like it starts and ends with Jenkins. Plus, the three you mentioned have been very extreme cases.

[Brent]

Yeah, Tarell Brown is a real troublemaker.

[Wide Right]

Where does everyone think Jenkins will eventually end up being selected?

If I had to venture a guess right now, I'd say late first or early second round.

I just feel like he's a tailor made Jerry Jones pick so depending on where the Cowboys are is where the Jenkins watch will start.

At the latest he's in the range of Ras I Dowling and Aaron Williams.

[BigBanger]

Jenkins is one of the best pure cover corners I have seen in a while. His feet and hips are pretty special. He has the speed you look for. Just as a pure man cover corner, he's as good as I've seen at the college level for a true junior (I probably wont watch him at all this year until Senior Bowl week, which he better go to). Jenkins is really instinctive and aggressive in off coverage / zone coverage. I don't care for his size, but it's not a huge deterrent and he does play pretty physical with WRs at the line of scrimmage. He's a good, willing tackler and will support the run. He is, probably, the best senior prospect in this class if I were to pick one.

With that said, I cannot stand character issues with players and his became glaring once he turned into a star at the college level. If it happened early in his college career, it could be excused but getting caught with weed twice in the offseason and then running from the police and getting tased, it's just stupid and you wonder how this kid is going to react once he actually does make it to the NFL. If he stays clean and does well in the interviews (his game is not a question at all), then I think he's still got a shot at being a top 10 pick and the first CB off the board. He wont be a complete player, but he's the type of guy that can play press coverage or zone coverage and shutdown some really good WRs.