The New York Jets’ depth at defensive end is under the spotlight just three weeks into the 2025 season.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes described it as an “unfortunate miscalculation” by the team’s front office and coaching staff.
“I think it’s an unfortunate miscalculation of what the Jets had upfront, believing Will McDonald was an all-around player and right now he is just not, and hoping Jermaine Johnson was going to stay healthy and right now he is not,” Hughes said.
Sorry #Jets fans… reinforcements are NOT coming at defensive end. @Connor_J_Hughes told @JeaneCoakley that there aren’t players available in free agency or on practice squads that would be upgrades over what the Jets currently have.
‘Braiden McGregor is the type of player… pic.twitter.com/QUbENXoxkr
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) September 19, 2025
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Hughes said the Jets entered the season expecting McDonald and Johnson to be their “every-down defensive ends.”
“Those guys were going to play 80% of the defensive snaps. The Jets have realized that Will McDonald can not play every snap because Will McDonald is a liability against the run. His Pro Football Focus grade against the run right now is like 29, which is second-worst in the NFL among all defenders. He is the only player in the bottom five who isn’t a defensive back,” Hughes revealed. “They are all corners and safeties, and then there is Will McDonald. He is a tremendous pass rusher, but his size and his weight, because he is a skinny guy, he is thrown out of the club in the run game.”
There Are No Answers for the Jets’ Issues
On SNYtv’s new show “Jets Mailbag”, Hughes and Jeane Coakley were asked, “Why can’t the Jets sign a better edge off another team’s practice squad? [Micheal] Clemons and [Braiden] McGregor have made zero positive plays, basically traffic cones.”
“Defensive linemen and defensive ends, in particular, are a premium position. Guys who can set the edge, rush the passer, I mean, that is everything in the NFL. The players you’re talking about don’t exist [they aren’t available]. If there were any defensive end that was truly going to make a difference on Sundays, forget the Jets being able to sign him off someone’s practice squad, he would already be on his team’s 53-man roster, or one of the other 31 NFL teams would add that player to their [roster],” Hughes explained.
Some of the most prominent names at defensive end have already been scooped up over the last few weeks. The Dallas Cowboys signed Jadeveon Clowney, the Philadelphia Eagles inked Za’Darius Smith, and the Miami Dolphins added Matthew Judon.
Hughes Explains Why the Help Jets Fans Are Looking for Won’t Be Coming
“Braiden McGregor is the type of player that would be on someone’s practice squad. That’s the type of player & the Jets already have him here,” Hughes said.
McGregor, 24, entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He is listed at 6-foot-6 and tips the scales at 267 pounds. While impressive physically, McGregor has appeared in eight total games and has failed to record a sack.
If that is the type of talent available, the Jets would be better served just rolling the dice with the players they have.
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