Jenkins reportedly wants a trade but Jones isn't interested in moving the former first-rounder. (US PRESSWIRE)

The Cowboys begin OTAs Tuesday cornerback Mike Jenkins won't be there because he wants to be traded, sources tell the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Clarence Hill Jr. While the workouts are voluntary, Jenkins, the team's first-round pick in 2008, wants out after Dallas signed Brandon Carr to a $50 million deal in free agency and then traded up to take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne in last month's NFL Draft.

Consequently, Jenkins has effectively gone from the Cowboys' best cornerback to third on the depth chart. But in a league that puts a premium on the passing game -- and finding ways to stop it -- a team can never have enough quality defensive backs (obvious exception: the Eagles, who shipped Asante Samuel to the Falcons in April). But Jenkins wants a new contract, which is exacerbated by a) the money the team paid to Carr and b) the various injuries Jenkins played through last season.

Hill notes that Orlando Scandrick has already signed a long-term deal with the Cowboys making Jenkins expendable. "However, his contract situation and his injury hinder the process. He would likely want a new deal before joining another team and the Cowboys would likely want premium compensation in return."

There's also this: Dallas apparently has no interest in moving Jenkins and want him on the roster for the 2012 season. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones went so far as to call Jenkins "vital" to the team's plans.

"We know that we've got a situation where we can identify what we are on defense by having three corners in there a lot I see short-term and long-term with Jenkins," Jones said last week. "We've also got Scandrick, we got some room if somebody gets nicked not to have to adjust. We can come out there and spend some time really utilizing where we are at corner. The decision to bring Claiborne in was a big part of that. There's no interest on my part at all of trading Jenkins. None." 

Given that the NFC East features the defending Super Bowl champion Giants and an Eagles outfit that should be vastly improved over last season, Jones is right to want to hoard as many quality defensive backs as he can.

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