Malcolm Jenkins Didn't Even Want That Much From Eagles but They Still Refused to Meet His Demands

The Philadelphia Eagles made a surprising decision on Tuesday in declining to exercise their 2020 team option for Pro Bowl defensive back Malcolm Jenkins.

The 32-year-old veteran showed signs of regression last season regarding his prowess in coverage, but he was still a serviceable player, and the leadership he provided to a largely inexperienced secondary cannot be understated. What makes the Eagles' move all the more puzzling is the report from Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer which claims that Jenkins wasn't even asking for all that much money.

We can only imagine how this news will sit with fans in the City of Brotherly Love.

Jenkins has been the glue that prevented Philly's porous secondary from unraveling in recent seasons. To think of how that group would have performed in 2019 without the veteran presence of the three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl LII champ is flat-out scary.

Giving Jenkins the extension he had been seeking out since last offseason seemed like a no-brainer move for general manager Howie Roseman. Instead, the Eagles dolled out huge money to bolster their defensive line, a group that wasn't, by any means, desperate for saving with the likes of Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson still in town.

Jenkins will prove to be a veteran gem for whatever teams coughs up the humble money to land his signature. As for the Eagles, well, they'll be hard-pressed to find somebody better on the open market.