The New York Jets have to add to the interior defensive line position this offseason, but where and how do they go about doing that–in the draft, free agency, or both?
Of the top four interior defenders from the 2023 season in total snaps played, only Quinnen Williams is under contract for the upcoming season. Solomon Thomas, Quinton Jefferson, and Al Woods are all unrestricted free agents.
So, not only is depth needed, but the Jets also need players who can come in and make an impact. With the interior defensive line being a relatively heavily rotated position, with three or four defenders seeing playing time each week, GM Joe Douglas needs to add at a minimum two and potentially even three players to the roster who can be relied upon to eat up snaps and, of course, make plays.
When it comes to the draft, the Jets may not have the opportunity to address this need until Day 3. On Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent big board, he had just four interior defenders in his top 50.
Byron Murphy from Texas is the closest to being in play for the Jets at pick 10, but selecting him would require New York to trade down and pass on taking an offensive tackle–their top need at the moment. I would guess this isn’t a likely scenario.
Other top prospects Jer’Zhan Newton, Maason Smith, and Braden Fiske may not be on the board at pick 72 when the Jets are back on the clock–not to mention that receiver and the offensive line are massive needs for the Jets to fill and could still take precedent in the third round.
For any team, it’s risky to go into the draft with the mindset of having to take a certain position at a specific point. The further a team gets away from the first overall selection, the more risky that approach becomes with so many variables in play and other needs to tackle.
When it comes to Day 3 of the draft, where the Jets do have six picks, it’s not as if impact players can’t be found there, but that’s not something to bank on when it comes to roster construction either.
At least as of now, the draft feels like an avenue for the Jets to build their depth along the interior defensive line, meaning free agency is where they will have to find more immediate help.
Salary cap-wise, the Jets are in a good but not great position with $20.7 million in available cap space, which ranks 18th overall, although they do have several cap-saving moves available to them to create more operating room.
Some of the top available free-agent names within this position group include Christian Wilkins, Leonard Williams, and DJ Reader. PFF projects that Wilkins will earn $25 million per year, Williams $17.25 million per year, and Reader $15.25 million per year.
Given that the Jets already have Quinnen Williams, have other pressing needs at receiver and offensive tackle, and have to be mindful of how they allocate their cap spending, Douglas probably isn’t shopping in this part of the market.
Instead, the type of moves that the Jets could make in free agency along the defensive line include re-signing Quinton Jefferson and/or Solomon Thomas. These are two moves that won’t break the bank by any means but bring back key contributors. According to PFF, both players set career highs in sacks last season.
Another name to watch is Javon Kinlaw, who spent his rookie season in San Francisco with Robert Saleh. Kinlaw recorded 35 pressures and four sacks in 2023, both career-highs, and he is projected by PFF to sign a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.
The name of the game in football is getting after the quarterback, something the Jets did really well in 2023, generating the fourth-highest pressure rate. The defensive front’s ability to get home on its own is also vital to the overall success of Saleh’s defense, which does not blitz often.
With Williams in the middle, John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, and 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald at edge rusher, the Jets are still positioned well up front, but investing in the interior defensive line in the coming months will be high on the priority list.
