NFL Rumors: Dallas Cowboys Would Be Foolish to Trade CB Mike Jenkins

The Dallas Cowboys drafted LSU star cornerback Morris Claiborne to bolster the talent and depth of their secondary for next season, but they cannot hurt that depth by trading former first-round pick Mike Jenkins.

Per Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas:

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Yes, the Cowboys are shopping cornerback Mike Jenkins for a trade, but there appear to be no takers. A couple of big problems for Jenkins. While the front office has praised Jenkins, there appears to be some concern about his participation in the offseason program. It's voluntary, but when you're coming off shoulder surgery it would be nice if the medical staff saw you regularly. Jenkins is working out in Florida, and his conditioning is never a question, but working out at Valley Ranch would benefit him. 

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Even with the addition of Claiborne and the expensive free-agent signing of star cornerback Brandon Carr of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cowboys will still need a quality third- and fourth-string corner.

The NFL is a passing league, and your secondary has to perform well if you want to make the playoffs consistently.

What if Claiborne turns out to be a bust? What if he and/or Carr get hurt? Jenkins will be very useful to the Cowboys this season whether he's a starter or not.

There's no reason to get rid of Jenkins before you see what kind of player Claiborne is going to be. He will likely be a star, but you cannot just assume he will dominate as a rookie right from the start.

The Cowboys probably won't even get much value for Jenkins anyway, or at least, enough to feel good about letting him go. 

Jenkins is a former first-round pick and has eight interceptions in his four pro seasons. He's still a solid player who can be relied on to make plays.

If he can stay healthy next season, Jenkins will be a productive player for the Cowboys, and that's something Dallas shouldn't trade away. 

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