The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed wide receiver Jaray Jenkins, the club announced on Monday.
Jenkins is a 6-foot-2, 206-pound wide receiver from Jena, Louisiana. He went undrafted out of LSU last year and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. Jenkins suffered an injury last August and was waived with an injury settlement on Sept. 4. He did not sign with another team last season.
Jaray played three seasons with the Tigers as a low-volume, but big-play receiver. His best statistical season came in 2021, when he caught 34 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 15.0 yards per reception. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch in 2020, but hauled in just 23 passes while playing behind Terrace Marshall, Kayshon Boutte and Arik Gilbert.
As a senior in 2022, Boutte still out-touched Jenkins, as well as younger players like Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Mason Taylor.
Jaray Jenkins tested poorly in the pre-draft process. He ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine. He also posted a 4.52-second shuttle, a 7.38-second three-cone drill, a 29.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8 broad jump — all bottom-tier scores for wide receivers. In total, he had a 4.09 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
The Steelers have plenty of options at wide receiver on their 2024 offseason roster. Jenkins will join a crowded field on the roster brink that includes Denzel Mims, Dez Fitzpatrick and Deuce Watts from last year’s practice squad and free agent addition Marquez Callaway.
In addition to signing Jenkins, the Steelers waived cornerback Luq Barcoo with an injury designation, giving them 89 players on their active roster.