Position Reset for '25
The Jets have changed the interior landscape around three-time Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams. After the previous regime claimed Phidarian Mathis (6-4, 312) off waivers last December, GM Darren Mougey added Byron Cowart (6-3, 300), Jay Tufele (6-3, 305) and Derrick Nnadi (6-1, 317) in free agency.
"BC, Byron Cowart, is doing well. Jay [Tufele] is doing great," said new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. "We got Leonard [Taylor III] who was here. We got some pieces that can complement him, so it's just waiting, wait and see exactly how it pans out. I thought those guys are doing well. I'm really excited about Jay and BC, but we got to wait until we get the pads on and see exactly how things pan out."
Cowart played last season under Jets DL coach Eric Washington in Chicago, registering 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks while appearing in 15 games (7 starts).
"I like the blend of the group," Washington said. "One person in particular, I'm familiar with is Byron Cowart. We were together last year in Chicago, but just a big fan of Jay Tufele, Phidarian Mathis. I remember evaluating him doing a thorough evaluation of him coming out of Alabama. So, there's some intriguing prospects there. There's definitely some traits, there's some intelligence and mentality. We just got to make sure it's all shaped and directed and where we needed to go."
The 6-3, 303-pound Williams, 27, who has amassed 39 sacks and 52 TFL in 90 career games, thinks there is plenty of room for individual improvement.
"A lot of mistakes, especially when it comes down to the run game and block strain and extension in my arms," he said. "I'm finishing my pass rushes, pad level, different things I did that I kind of, I guess, struggled with last year. And I just want to be able to get better at and fine tune some things this year, so I can be a better player in those aspects."
The Jets' reinforcements at edge include Jermaine Johnson, who is returning from an Achilles tendon tear and could start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list; veteran free agent signee Rashad Weaver, a fifth-year pro who racked up 5.5 sacks with the Tennessee Titans in 2022; and fifth-round pick Tyler Baron.
"He actually showed really good pass rush ability," said HC Aaron Glenn of Baron, who had 5.5 sacks last season at Miami. "So now it's just nudging him a little bit more to get him over that hump to be a really good player for us and we expect our player to do that for us."