Jelani Jenkins will return to the AFC East after an unsuccessful foray with the Raiders this offseason. The Bills are signing the former Dolphins linebacker, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets.
The Raiders released Jenkins with an injury settlement earlier this month, and it looks like Buffalo feels confident the 4-3 outside linebacker has recovered sufficiently from the groin injury that sidelined him. The Bills cut rookie cornerback Greg Mabin to make room on the roster.
A 2013 fourth-round pick, Jenkins started for three seasons with the Dolphins. Although injuries marred his 2016 campaign, Jenkins stood out as a first-year starter two years prior in making 110 tackles and registering 3.5 sacks. The Bills did not have much experience on their linebacking corps behind starters Lorenzo Alexander and Ramon Humber, carrying fifth- and sixth-round rookies Matt Milano and Tanner Vallejo as second-stringers.
The Raiders signed Jenkins to a one-year, $1MM deal to compete for a starting job on a defense without much linebacker experience. He could not secure the outside linebacker position opposite Bruce Irvin and was released.