Given their contrasting fortunes recently, the San Francisco 49ers appear to have an edge over the Seattle Seahawks in attracting players.
However, new Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins chose Seattle over the 49ers after visiting both teams, despite the 49ers reaching the Super Bowl last season and winning their last five games against Seattle, including in the playoffs.
Jenkins is excited about playing for new Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald, a renowned defensive mind, but the key factor in his decision wasn’t football-related.
“I wanted to join a contender in a bigger market,” Jenkins said. “Seattle felt perfect, with plenty of opportunity and a defensive-minded head coach. Plus, the taxes in Washington are much better compared to California, which influenced my decision.”
Jenkins visited the 49ers first, followed by the Seahawks, and had two more visits scheduled. Seattle made an offer, which the 49ers matched, but the tax advantage in Washington swayed Jenkins.
Considering non-football factors, Jenkins’ decision is logical. Washington has no state income tax, while California has the highest in the country. Given Jenkins’ $12 million contract over two years, with $6.26 million guaranteed, avoiding high taxes was crucial for the 30-year-old.
This tax advantage helped the Seahawks sign an underrated safety.
Jenkins was the top safety in the NFL in 2023 by NextGen Stats’ receptions over expected metric, with minus 5.6 receptions over expected, showcasing his coverage strength.
According to Sports Info Solutions, Jenkins was the sixth-most targeted safety last season, with 41 targets, allowing the fifth-lowest completion percentage (41.5%) and an eighth-best passer rating against (50.3) among safeties with at least 20 targets.
Only four safeties had a better positive play rate allowed (31.7%), and he was seventh in Expected Points Added per target allowed.
Jenkins’ presence could improve Seattle’s pass defense against San Francisco’s potent aerial attack. Whether it will end their losing streak against the 49ers remains to be seen, but the Seahawks can be thankful Jenkins prioritized his finances when choosing between the NFC West rivals.
