Last season, the New York Jets fell short in many areas. One of the surprising ones, however, was on defense. Despite seemingly having enough talent to be a good unit, things ultimately unraveled over the course of the year. A proper offseason and a coaching change is expected to fix that for 2025.
There is at least one question, though, that much be answered. If you ask Matt Holder of Bleacher Report, he’ll point to the linebacker position. In a July 16 story, Holder dove into one trade every NFL team should consider before the season. For the Jets, it’s making a move for a veteran linebacker.
Jets’ Lack of Linebacker Depth Triggers Idea for External Acquisition
With longtime option C.J. Mosley choosing to take the retirement route, that left the cupboard a bit bare. The presence of Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams isn’t enough to sway Holder from pushing for an injection of talent.
“With C.J. Mosley out of the picture, Jamien Sherwood is expected to own the second starting linebacker spot in New York,” Holder wrote. “He is coming off a strong campaign but didn’t play much defensively before last season. Meanwhile, the Jets are very young and lack depth at the position. So, swinging a deal for a veteran backer to serve as an insurance policy behind Sherwood and Quincy Williams wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
It isn’t as if those two players aren’t viable. Sherwood led the league with 98 solo tackles a year ago. He’s still just 25 years old and was rewarded for his play with a contract extension. With that comes pressure, certainly, but he seems up for the challenge. After earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023-24, Williams amassed 116 tackles last season but wasn’t quite as effective overall. For example his Pro Football Focus grade fell from 81.1 to 68.0.
It’s the rest of the room that, rightfully, gives Holder plenty of pause. Marcelino McCrary-Ball is a special teams piece looking to take the next step. 2025 fifth-round pick Francisco Mauigoa seems destined for McCrary-Ball’s former role if he gets more run on defense. Zaire Barnes spent last year on injured reserve.
The most popular name not mentioned yet is Jamin Davis. Davis, the 19th overall pick back in 2021, is on his fourth team since last October. He has the highest profile, albeit in a very underwhelming group beyond Sherwood and Williams.
Previewing the Rest of New York’s Projected 2025 Defense
That leads us to the rest of the Jets’ defense. After ranking fourth in points allowed in 2022, that slot has dropped to 12th in 2023 and 20th last year. According to SumerSports, New York was 21st in EPA/play as a unit in 2024. Barring an unprecedented leap from the offense, that simply won’t cut it this coming season. Improvement is needed.
Luckily, there are some nice pieces in place. Up front, Quinnen Williams remains one of the game’s best pass rushers. He’s complemented by 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald IV and 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson, although Johnson is working his way back from an Achilles rupture.
In the secondary, Sauce Gardner will always be the top piece. With his contract extended, he must live up to the price tag in 2025. Rookie Azareye’h Thomas is an intriguing piece to keep an eye on. Elsewhere, the free agent acquisition duo of cornerback Brandon Stephens and safety Andre Cisco could make or break the defensive backfield. Michael Carter II might be fighting for his job.
The upside for the Jets’ 2025 defense is serious. The floor isn’t necessarily bad either but considering the club’s paths to success, almost all of them stem from Steve Wilks’ group performing at a high level.
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