NASHVILLE – The Titans secondary will look a lot different in 2021, and it will include former Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
The Titans and Jenkins on Friday agreed to terms on a multi-year deal early in free agency.
Jenkins wants to do his part.
"It feels great (to be here)," Jenkins said during a video conference call on Friday. "I got welcomed with open arms. I just feel like I was a part of the missing piece. They have a run game, they know how to control the ball, a nice front, linebackers pretty good, just got (Bud) Dupree. I feel like I can come in and give leadership and that veteran mentality to the back-end guys."
Jenkins, nicknamed "Jackrabbit", has 26 interceptions in his nine-year career with the Rams, Giants and Saints. He started 14 games in New Orleans last season, including the playoffs, after he was claimed off waivers by the Saints from the Giants late in the 2019 season.
Jenkins, 32, was released by the Saints earlier this week.
He wants to help the young guys in Tennessee, and he said he's good with playing man-to-man or zone. But he admits he loves playing man-to-man most.
"I am excited – I have been in the league nine years," Jenkins said. "(In my career) I've shown up and played football and made sure the younger guys understand what is going on and made sure they never lose confidence. That is what I am here for, and we're going to have fun.
"Wherever I go I am going to be a baller. I am going to ball, and I am going to continue to ball and just lead."
The 5-10, 190-pounder, Jenkins had three interceptions in 2020, one of which he returned for a touchdown in a Week 1 victory over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2020, Jenkins also posted 43 tackles and 12 pass defensed, and he now has a total of 118 in his career.
Jenkins, a second-round draft pick with the Rams in 2012, has started a total of 128 games in the regular season and four more in the playoffs.
Among NFL players since 2012, Jenkins ranks first in passes defensed (119), first in defensive touchdowns scored (9) and fourth in interceptions (26). Jenkins has registered two or more interceptions in eight of his nine NFL seasons.
Earlier this month, the Titans released three of four starters from the secondary at the end of last season – cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson, along with safety Kenny Vaccaro.
Jenkins played his final college season at North Alabama after spending three seasons at Florida, where he played in 40 games with 36 starts for the Gators and was a member of 2008 national championship team.
He made it clear on Friday he wants to be known as "Jackrabbit" or "Rabbit."
Jenkins said he plays with a "chip on my shoulder" because he's from a small town.
"When y'all was calling me Janoris, I almost got upset," Jenkins told reporters. "Just refer to be as Jackrabbit if you guys don't mind, or Rabbit. I have been going by that ever since I entered the league.
"I am from Pahokee, Florida, a small town near West Palm, and we are just known to chase rabbits. …. My coach (in college) started calling me 'Jackrabbit," and after that I just ran with it."
CB Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins at Saint Thomas Sports Park signing with the Tennessee Titans. (Donald Page)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans and Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans and Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 19, 2021 - Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins contract signing and first visit at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
See the Best Photos from CB Janoris Jenkins' ten-year NFL Career with the St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, and New Orleans Saints. (AP Images)
St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) tackles Chicago Bears wide receiver DeAndre Carter (19) during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in New Orleans. The Saints beat the Bears 21-9. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) plays the field against New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) during an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. The Buccaneers won 30-20. (Aaron Doster via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) breaks up a pass intended for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel (10) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Scotty Miller (10) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor #15 runs the ball up field after a catch against New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins #20 during an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jeff Bottari)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) tackles Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday December 1st, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) can't make the catch against New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) deflects a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (18) during an NFL football game, Sunday Nov. 10, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defeated the Giants 34-27. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Janoris Jenkins (20) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 23-17 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins runs with the ball after intercepting a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins runs the ball bak for a touchdown after an interception against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins gestures after breaking up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, back, on the final play of overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won 30-27 in overtime. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) and New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) face off in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants' Janoris Jenkins (20) runs after an interception against the Carolina Panthers in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)
St. Louis Rams Janoris Jenkins breaks up a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game on Oct. 28, 2013 in St. Louis. The Seahawks won the game, 14-9. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) runs back an interception from Houston Texans quarterback T.J. Yates during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Houston, Texas. The Rams won 38-13. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) knocks away a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in St. Louis. The Rams won the game 27-16. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) attempts an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday Nov. 6, 2016, Secaucus, NJ. The Giants defeated the Eagles 28-23. (Al Tielemans via AP Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs against St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. The 49ers won 23-13. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins, left, breaks up a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the end zone during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) covers Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) during a week 12 NFL football game on November 27, 2016 in Cleveland. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Baltimore Ravens running back Bobby Rainey, right, runs for a 13-yard gain as St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins defends during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)
