Jarvis Jenkins to Jets: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

For the second straight offseason, Jarvis Jenkins found himself looking for work. However, he's found it as the New York Jets officially announced they signed the defensive end on Wednesday.

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported on March 11 that Jenkins had agreed to a contract with the Jets. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that it's a three-year deal worth $2 million per season.

However, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported at the time the deal is for two years and $7 million with $3 million guaranteed.

Jenkins joins a Jets squad led by defensive guru Todd Bowles. It's coming off a promising 10-6 season, and while there are questions revolving around the quarterback situation, the team continues to build on an already stout defense.

Defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams made up one of the deepest defensive lines in football. With Harrison headed to the Giants, the Jets needed to bring in a player like Jenkins to ensure that they didn't take a step backward.

The 2011 second-round pick will look to build on a solid 2015. Signed to a one-year deal by the Chicago Bears last offseason, Jenkins posted career highs in tackles (32) and sacks (four) while starting 15 games.

It proved to be an important return to form for Jenkins, whose final two seasons in Washington were a struggle.

He was suspended four games for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy and started only five games in 2013. Back as a starter a year later, Jenkins failed to record a sack and didn't receive interest from Washington when he hit the open market.

Jenkins recently addressed that rough patch when speaking with CBS Sports Radio's The DA Show:

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I had a lot of growing up to do. I had to reevaluate myself as a player and get my confidence back. Going into the organization with Chicago and (their coaching staff), they gave me my confidence back. That’s one thing you need to be a good player. Your confidence level has to be up. I just went out there and played ball like I normally did and it was successful for me.

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Talent has never been a problem for Jenkins. He starred at Clemson for four years, emerging as one of the nation's most dominant linemen with a combination of power and athleticism. In that same interview, Jenkins spoke about learning that physicality doesn't always work in the NFL:

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In football, you can be more athletic than any guy in the NFL, but if they out-technique you, that athletic ability goes out the window. I had to do the little things right, study offensive slides, formations. That was something I didn’t do as a young player, and if I would have thought about that and I would have applied it more when I was a young player, I wouldn’t be in the situation I am now. But I’m still young. I’m 27, I’m in my prime and I’m definitely getting that right now.

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The Jets will hope he heeds that lesson going forward. Jenkins bordered on bust status during his four-year run in Washington. One year of effectiveness does not suddenly erase his shaky history, so New York is taking a bit of a risk in making him a clear part of its future.

Even last season, Jenkins' effectiveness took a noticeable downturn in the second half.

With that said, if 2015 is any indication, Jenkins may be in the midst of a mid-career ascent that could make this deal look like a bargain.