New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has earned Pro Bowl selection for three consecutive seasons. But in 2025, the Jets finished 17th among the NFL’s 32 teams in rushing defense, and only three teams allowed more rushing touchdowns than New York.
The Jets’ search to find support for the former Alabama All-American in the defensive interior lasted most of the offseason.
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw started every game in 2024 as a free-agent signee, but he had only a one-season stop in New York as he left in free agency for the Washington Commanders.
The Jets signed Derrick Nnadi and Byron Cowart as free agents this offseason.
Nnadi joined New York after seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. And he’s back with Kansas City after the Jets traded him to the Chiefs on Aug. 25.
A former Auburn standout, Cowart is on season-ending injured reserve because of an ankle injury.
So at almost the 11th hour, New York made another attempt to address defensive tackle with two trades on Aug. 20. The Jets sent a 2026 sixth-round draft pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for Harrison Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick, and New York sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Jowon Briggs and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
While Briggs played in six games as a seventh-round rookie in 2024, Phillips is a seven-year veteran who started every game for the Vikings in the previous three seasons.
Phillips has a reputation as a space-eating, blocker-absorbing nose tackle, and Minnesota had the NFC’s No. 1 rushing defense in 2024.
“The first thing he said was, ‘I have to keep you clean,’” Williams told ESPN about meeting Phillips at the Jets’ facility. “So he’s talking my language already.”
New York owns the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. But under new coach Aaron Glenn, Phillips is expecting a turnaround for the Jets.
“No. 1, who I get to play alongside,” Phillips said. “We’ve got some unbelievably talented people on this defense -- young linebackers who have proven themselves, directly next to me in Mr. Williams. There’s a lot of fun things going and the pieces are all starting to come together. AG is a defensive head coach. Been a few years since I had one again. …
“I think it was a little bit of a surprise just because of being a captain up in Minnesota, some of the things I was able to do off the field there and being a, you know, I think I was the head coach and GM’s first signing in free agency four years ago. But understand that it’s a business and understand the opportunity that I have here to come in with -- I think all of you guys know the arrow is pointing up here. And so I’m just really hopeful that I can come in and make sure that the arrow continues to point up and do whatever I can to play that part as well.”
Williams said he is “super excited” to play with Phillips.
“I’ve been a fan of his for a little minute, man,” Williams said. “The things that he done at Buffalo and the things he done at the Vikings with that successful defense and the things that they did great last year, I was super excited to bring him in and teach us some things, teach me some things and to help the defense be where we know it could be. So it’s a great thing.”
Phillips said he hoped the defensive-line room would benefit from his experience.
“Young players that have a lot of flash, players that I hope my veteran leadership can help out,” Phillips said. “I think one of the qualities that I can bring to a defensive-line room is the intellectual side of the game, and oftentimes I’m able to anticipate a play before it happens or repeat formations. And so in the huddle if see a personnel grouping or something that I’ve seen before, I can let the guy know next to me, ‘Hey, you’re going to get a slip block here. Hey, watch this reach. Hey, they’re going to come back to that bounce-G that hit us in this.’ And some of those things allow players to play a little faster and more free.
“But they’ve got all the talent in the world. I mean, it’s fun to be a part of guys that are going to be demanding double-teams and pulling the slides off of guys and all that stuff.”
Briggs also is excited about joining the Jets, especially about working with Williams.
“He’s obviously baller,” Briggs said, “so it’s definitely awesome to be able to get here and be able to learn from another experienced veteran, another vested veteran that actually has a lot to give, so I’m nothing but thankful for the opportunity.”
The Jets kick off their 17-game schedule against the Pittsburgh Steelers at noon CDT Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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