The fans wanted Jairus Byrd. The Eagles wanted the more versatile and affordable Malcolm Jenkins. The Eagles won, and the fans have been excited ever since. Malcolm Jenkins has been the voice of truth, calm during a storm but passionate when many wax numb. It’s the arrival of Jenkins that became the catalyst for the Eagles defense: whether by good or not. The team used the template of Jenkins conversion from cornerback to safety as the model to attempt the same with former cornerback and currently safety Walter Thurmond IV.
Still, his was not the most heralded of arrivals.