With Jalen Ramsey on the Active/PUP list, the Pittsburgh Steelers are adding an experienced safety early in training camp.
Rayshawn Jenkins will reportedly sign a one-year deal with the Steelers, giving Pittsburgh a physical, experienced player. The 32-year-old Jenkins has played 5,887 career snaps during stints with the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns.
Jenkins played all 17 games with the Browns last season, logging 227 defensive snaps. He finished with a 54.9 overall grade, recording 45 tackles, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one interception, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jenkins has recorded 562 tackles (20 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, 34 pass breakups, four forced fumbles two fumble recoveries and two touchdowns in 139 games.
So, what are the Steelers getting in Jenkins? Let’s dive into the film room.
COVERAGE
Jenkins hasn’t been all that good in coverage throughout his career. He’s at his best as more of a box safety, but he’s handled some single-high and plenty of two-high looks in his career.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins has allowed 194 receptions on 274 targets for 2,132 yards and six touchdowns. He does have those 11 interceptions and 34 pass breakups though, so he’s had some success.
But turning 33 in January, Jenkins isn’t a guy you want handling two-high or single-high looks, especially working vertically.
When he’s able to sit and read things, he trusts his eyes and can make plays on the football.
His interception last year against the Miami Dolphins is a good example of that.
He sits in the zone, reads the quarterback’s eyes, and they take him to the football. He has good ball skills when he gets there, too.
While with the Jaguars in 2023, Jenkins had some impressive plays in coverage, like this interception against the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson.
Again, you can see his ability to drive downhill, read the quarterback’s eyes and put himself in position to make the play.
He’s a bit clunky changing directions when backpedaling, and I noticed some issues with slipping over the last few years when he changed directions. But when put in a situation to work downhill and keep things in front of him, Jenkins is a solid defender overall.
TACKLING
Jenkins is at his best in the box.
Time and again throughout his 2025 tape with the Browns, Jenkins made plays at and around the line of scrimmage.
Here against the New England Patriots last season, Jenkins showed the ability to work through traffic along the line of scrimmage, track the running back and finish the tackle with force.
Jenkins plays a bit like a linebacker in these situations. He knows how to read things while in tight, uses his hands well and has a nose for the football, allowing him to be in the vicinity of the play time and time again.
He made a similar play a few weeks later against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Watch how he uses his hands and keeps himself clean while taking on the tight end against the run. He stays square, initiates contact and holds his ground. Keeping himself in the hole, he ultimately makes the stop for a short gain.
When he’s not around the line of scrimmage, Jenkins tracks well working downhill, takes good angles and more often than not finishes tackles. Last season he had just four missed tackles for the Browns.
This play against the Jets last season after coming downhill to make a stop against the run caught my eye.
He reads it quickly, sticks his foot in the ground and fires downhill. Jenkins takes a good angle, stays square to running back Breece Hall, and finishes the stop with good form, shutting down a play that had the potential to be a big one.
Jenkins has missed 82 tackles in his career, according to Pro Football Focus, but that’s just a 14.1% miss rate, which is pretty average.
Assuming he is in position to fight for a 53-man roster spot, Jenkins projects as a serviceable box safety backup behind DeShon Elliott. He has 1,400 career special teams snaps, too, so he fills the safety depth chart well at this point in the season.