The Chargers also re-signed wide receiver Jeff Graham, who led the team in receptions (57) and receiving yards (968) in 1999.

Jenkins, 26, started 15 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 1999 and had his best season in the NFL, with 66 tackles and 13 passes defensed. The four-year veteran joined the team as a second-round pick in the 1996 draft. He became a full-time starter halfway through the '98 season after playing primarily in "nickel" situations early in his career.

He was also sought by Kansas City, Dallas and Cincinnati.

While his name isn't necessarily a familiar one, some NFL personnel directors rated him higher than better-known unrestricted free agent corners like Ashley Ambrose and Thomas Smith, who signed lucrative contracts with Atlanta and Chicago. Two general managers who spoke with SportsLine about the free-agent pool agreed Jenkins had the best "upside" of any of the available cornerbacks.

In four seasons with the Ravens, he played in 63 games and started 30. He has 151 tackles, two interceptions and 39 passes defensed. Jenkins has nice size (5-feet-11, 190 pounds), good top-end speed and is very fluid. Jenkins began his college career at Tennessee as a wide receiver but was moved into the secondary after his freshman season there.