Ravens defensive tackle John Jenkins, 36, has been in the NFL since 2013. On Friday, he experienced something new: The team extended his contract.
For Jenkins, getting an extension was a long and strange journey.
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Jenkins was originally a third-round pick of the Saints in 2013, but was released in 2016 while still on his rookie contract with the Saints. Jenkins signed a contract with the Seahawks for the remainder of the 2016 season.
In 2017, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Bears. After his contract expired, he signed another one-year contract with the Bears in the 2018 offseason, but they waived him before the start of the season. He then signed a one-year contract with the Giants for the 2018 regular season.
In May 2019, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Giants, but the Giants waived him before the start of the regular season. He then signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins in 2019.
In April 2020, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Bears.
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In April 2021, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins. More than a year later, in April 2022, he signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins.
In the 2023 offseason, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Raiders. In the 2024 offseason, he signed another one-year contract with the Raiders.
In May 2025, Jenkins signed a one-year contract with the Ravens. Now, in January 2026, Jenkins finally received something he had never received before: an extension, and the Ravens signed him to a new contract that will pay him $2 million through the 2026 season.
“I’ve been, I want to say 11 a deal,” Jenkins said via ESPN. “So, yeah, I’m surprised. “
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Even though Jenkins will be 37 next season, there are older players in the NFL still playing on the defensive line: Arizona’s Calais Campbell is 39, Philadelphia’s Brandon Graham is 37, and Pittsburgh’s Cam Heyward will turn 37 a few months before Jenkins. Jenkins thinks he still has something left, and the Ravens think so, too.