Seahawks addition of veteran safety a much better fit than Quandre Diggs
Jenkins is a better fit for the Hawks new defense
Let's get back to those alignments. Yes, Quandre lined up in the box some, but it was still on less than nine percent of his snaps. Meanwhile, Rayshawn was everywhere. He was on the line almost as much as Quandre played slot. Jenkins can be considered a strong safety, sure. Most of his snaps came in the box, just under 43 percent. But 32 percent of the time saw him lined up deep, and almost 17 percent in the slot. He even lined up at corner more often than Diggs did in the slot, per snap (4.28 to 3.95 percent).
And what new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks made a point of lining up his players in multiple looks to disguise his coverage? Congrats, 12s, you got it on the first try. Macdonald loves to move his chess pieces around the field. Last year, none of his three - yes, three - safeties got more than 22 percent of the snaps in the box. His schemes are a topic for another time, but Jenkins is a perfect match for the multiple sets Macdonald likes to throw at the opposition.
Yes, it would have been great if the Seahawks had signed Geno Stone. Sadly, he joined the Bengals instead, reportedly for two years and $15 million. The Hawks signed Jenkins for two years and $12 million. But that extra three mil can go a long way. Both center Nick Harris and tight end Pharoah Brown signed for $3 million deals.
As for Jenkins himself, no, he may not be the best safety in the league. But he's far more versatile than Diggs. At this point in their careers, he's a better player and a far better fit for what the Seahawks defense will run in 2024.