Derrick Nnadi: A Champion's Pedigree
Seven seasons in the NFL. Three Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets believe they landed a winner when they signed unrestricted free agent DT Derrick Nnadi at the very start of the free agency period in March.
Through OTAs and minicamp, Nnadi has been able to get a sense of what's to come, especially as he interacts with and gets comfortable working with Quinnen Williams in the middle of the D-line.
"It's been cool," Nnadi, 29, said. "To actually [get to] know these types of guys, learn from them and share some stories, things I've experienced, things we've experienced, and help us as a unit grow even better."
He added: "We rushing, we attacking. The biggest one is we're attacking on all phases, from the front lines, linebackers, DBs. We're attacking everything."
Nnadi (6-1, 310) had played for KC since he was selected out of Florida State in the third round (No. 75 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He quickly became a fixture on the D-line, playing in 16 games as a rookie. Over his seven seasons, he never played in fewer than 15 games (a total of 115), has taken 3,063 defensive snaps, racking up 233 total tackles, 5 sacks, 8 QB hits and 7 TFL. In addition, he added 38 tackles and a sack in 18 postseason games (12 starts), including four of KC's five most recent Super Bowl appearances.
It's early, but Nnadi said he's been impressed by the energy HC Aaron Glenn brings.
"He definitely brings a lot of energy," Nnadi said. "He's played back in the day, so he knows the kind of energy he needs to bring and instill in his players. I see that every day, because we come out with a lot of energy, a lot of fire, whether it's offense, defense, special teams, we come out to execute."
Rashad Weaver: It Kind of Just Clicks
In his four seasons in the NFL -- three with Tennessee and one with Houston -- Rashad Weaver has had to adjust to new teammates and new environments. After signing with the Jets in free agency in March and taking part in OTAs and minicamp, Weaver, 27, said he has settled in quickly.
"You know, anytime you get into a new building, the first couple weeks are kind of slow, and everybody just gets used to each other, and then after two weeks, we're all just football players, and it kind of just clicks," Weaver said. "And just to see everybody's personality and different skill sets and attitude that we bring on and off the field and you can kind of see how it'll mold the room and take us where we need to go. And everybody kind of has their own role and, and that's what I'm most excited for."
Weaver, who can play on the D-line and at linebacker, had his two most productive seasons with the Titans in 2022 and 2023 when he appeared in a combined 31 games and made 47 tackles with 5.5 sacks and 11 TFL.
"I'm in a place right now where I'm just earning my role," he said. "I've had a lot of ups and downs. I try not to look too much into that anymore. So I just feel my role is to carve my role out onto this roster, and then when it is my time, it'll just happen."