The New York Jets have one of the top pairs of off-ball linebackers in the NFL.
In ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler’s annual linebacker rankings ahead of 2025, only two pairs of LBs from the same team were represented.
The Washington Commanders had Frankie Luvu ranked as the No. 5 linebacker, and Bobby Wagner was thrown in the honorable mention section. While the Jets had Quincy Williams ranked as the No. 10 linebacker and Jamien Sherwood was tossed in the honorable mention category.
The green and white lost team captain C.J. Mosley this offseason after releasing him ahead of free agency. Mosley ended up retiring over the summer.
When one door closes, another door opens. Mosley’s injury issues opened the door for Sherwood to step up to the plate in 2024.
He delivered a career year and secured the bag this offseason. Sherwood became one of the top-five highest-paid linebackers with his $45 million contract in free agency.
Now heading into 2025, Sherwood is heading into his second year, but first being the big man on campus. While Williams is as motivated as ever entering a contract year.
Jets LBU for Rookies in 2025
The top two linebackers for the Jets are as good as it gets. However, there is a ton of uncertainty behind Williams and Sherwood.
Who the top reserve is unclear. What scheme the Jets will run primarily between a 3-4 versus 4-3 is also unclear.
Heading into training camp, the Jets have three rookies on the 91-man roster at linebacker.
Francisco Mauigoa, 22, was the No. 162 overall pick in the fifth round of April’s draft.
Mauigoa has an advantage over every other linebacker on the roster because he was chosen by this new regime. The rest of the guys in the room were just leftovers in the fridge.
Head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey walked into the new house they bought, opened the refrigerator, and found those leftovers sitting in there. They opened the package, gave it a sniff, and said sure we will keep it.
The other two rookie linebackers came in as undrafted free agents this offseason.
Jared Bartlett is listed at 6-foot-2 and tips the scales at 237 pounds out of Cincinnati. Aaron Smith is listed at 6-foot-2 and tips the scale at 230 pounds out of South Carolina State.
Breaking Down the Veterans Vying for Roster Spots
Jamin Davis, 26, entered the league as the No. 19 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
“The Jets have basically no proven depth pieces behind Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood. Davis is a former first-round pick of the Commanders and was a starter from 2021-23 in Washington, so he might be considered the favorite,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic wrote.
Zaire Barnes, 25, entered the league as the No. 184 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. In his very brief NFL career to date, he has only appeared in four games.
If the coaching staff that loved him couldn’t get Barnes on the field, he faces long odds trying to impress a new staff all over again.
Marcelino McCrary-Ball, 26, has appeared in 14 games since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Jackson Sirmon, 25, joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2024. A year later he has another whack at the piñata to make the roster. He is listed at 6-foot-2 and tips the scales at 240 pounds.
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