The New York Jets have a major question mark on their defensive line heading into the summer. On the inside, the Jets will of course be deploying superstar Quinnen Williams. Outside of Williams, it's a roll of the dice.
The uncertainty regarding the other tackle position leaves the door open for a massive competition during camp, one where a surprise name could earn himself a starting spot - or be cut.
The Jets claimed former Alabama star Phidarian Mathis off waivers late last season, and Mathis can be an x-factor for the Jets if he has a strong camp.
Mathis didn't appear for the Jets in 2024, but given the wide open competition, he has a chance to earn a role with the team.
Mathis was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Being selected with the No. 47 overall pick has been the highlight of Mathis' NFL tenure. His career has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent play.
Mathis played in 23 games in his three NFL seasons, earning the most playing time in 2024, where he appeared in 12 games, breaking up a pass and recording 17 tackles, two of which were for loss.
In college, the now-27 year old played four seasons at Alabama, helping guide them to a National Championship in 2020. Mathis was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2021, in a season where he tallied 12 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
In the NFL, Mathis hasn't been able to escape the injury bug. He tore his meniscus in his NFL debut, causing him to miss the rest of the season. A calf injury derailed his 2023 campaign, causing him to miss the first two months of the season, and once returning, Mathis failed to make an impact.
Mathis was near the bottom of the league in Pro Football Focus grade in 2024, posting a 32.3 overall grade with a 29.0 run defense grade, the second-worst grade among 140 qualified tackles.
The Jets weren't the only team to put a waiver claim on him in December, as the Jets' bid beat out the Lions, Bengals and Texans.
That interest suggests that teams still believe in the flashes he showed at Alabama that led to his top-50 selection.
Outside of Williams, the tackle depth chart is a crapshoot. Mathis will be competing with veterans Derrick Nnadi, Byron Coward and Jay Tufele, who were all brought in this offseason. There are some youngsters in the mix as well, with undrafted rookies Payton Page and Fatorma Mulbah, while 2024 UDFA Leonard Taylor III is still around after showing promise last season.