Video: Rayshawn Jenkins says no income taxes played role in choosing Seahawks over 49ers

There’s a new safety in town for the Seattle Seahawks, and he chose the Pacific Northwest over Seattle’s NFC West rivals.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars starter Rayshawn Jenkins was one of the first free agent signings of the Mike Macdonald era. After starting his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, Jenkins spent the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before he was let go as a salary cap casualty.

Jenkins was sought after by both the Seahawks and the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, but Jenkins opted for Seattle on a two-year contract worth up to $12 million.

“I wanted to go to a contender. I wanted to go to a bigger market,” Jenkins said (via Seahawks.com). “I felt like Seattle was the perfect place. Plenty of opportunity, a team with a head coach that’s defensive minded.”

Apart from playing for Mike Macdonald, who will undoubtedly be eying his versatility as both a free and strong safety, there’s a different aspect to Jenkins joining the Seahawks that is very understandable from a financial perspective.

“I took a visit to the 49ers,” Jenkins said. “I went here first, then the 49ers. I had two more visits set up. Seattle called, made an offer, [the 49ers] matched it obviously but... going back to those taxes, I’m like ‘let me go out here.’”

Neither Florida (where Jenkins played with the Jaguars and in college at the University of Miami) nor Washington has state income tax, whereas California definitely does!

Watch the full interview below. You’ll also get insights on the progress the team is making under Macdonald’s new defensive system.