The New York Jets were dealt a huge blow on Sunday with stud second-year edge rusher Jermaine Johnson tearing his Achilles and being placed on season-ending injured reserve today. Johnson is a huge loss for an already thin Jets defensive line without Haason Reddick.
The Jets have some intriguing in-house options, with second-year edge rusher Will McDonald IV coming off a historic performance, a presumed increased workload for training camp star Takk McKinley, and highly touted undrafted free agents Braiden McGregor and Eric Watts, but in an all-in season may desire more security than simply relying on a journeyman and pair of UDFA’s.
Jermaine Johnson also leaves some big shoes to fill as a do-it-all edge rusher. While players like McDonald and McKinley profile more as pass-rush specialists, and bigger edge defenders like McGregor and Watts excel more at setting the edge in the run game, Johnson did both exceptionally well earning grades of 71.0 or better in both pass-rushing and run defense last season according to Pro Football Focus en route to a Pro Bowl nomination
The Jets could turn to the free-agent market to replace Jermaine Johnson
Obviously, in mid-September, the free agent market is slim pickings. However with that said, there are some intriguing options for the Jets to consider.
None of these players will be the superb two-way defender that Johnson was, however, there are some players who could provide some pass rush juice or reliable depth serving as an insurance policy to the intriguing UDFAs on the roster.
Yannick Ngakoue could be an interesting rotational pass-rusher
Ngakoue was a budding young star at the defensive end position for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the beginning of his career. Over his first four years in Jacksonville, from 2016 to 2019, he tallied 37.5 sacks including a career-high 12 in his second year in the league.
Since then, Ngakoue has bounced around the league as a hired-gun pass rusher. The 29-year-old had the worst season of his career last year with the Chicago Bears posting just four sacks and grading out as the second-worst edge rusher in the league last season, per PFF
At 6-2, 246 pounds, Ngakoue has never been a stout run defender, but his 29.2% missed tackle rate last season was downright putrid. Still, with his track record of production prior to last season (never posting less than 8 sacks in a season before last year) and still being on the right side of 30, there’s a reasonable chance that he can rebound especially considering the Bears’ defensive line was completely devoid of talent except for him.
Randy Gregory could bring postseason pedigree
Gregory signed a five-year $70 million dollar contract with the Denver Broncos ahead of the 2022 season, but would spend under a year and a half with the franchise before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers last season. Between the two clubs, Gregory notched four sacks and a poor 45.5 PFF grade.
At 6-5, 242 pounds, Gregory is a long, lean edge rusher who has had success as a pass-rush specialist while struggling against the run. Throughout his career, Gregory has had trouble staying on the field due to injuries and suspensions.
Most importantly, Gregory signed a one-year, $3 million dollar contract with Tampa Bay this offseason, but was released in August after failing to report to the team. The incident was bizarre, and given the drama surrounding Haason Reddick, it’s unclear whether the Jets would have the appetite to bring in another mercurial player.
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Tyus Bowser might be a quality depth piece
Bowser has been a productive, rotational edge defender for the Baltimore Ravens for many years, however, the now 29-year-old missed the entire 2023 season with a torn Achilles and subsequent knee injury making his health very much a question mark.
Bowser is a bit more balanced as an edge defender, though he possesses no elite skill even at full strength. He’s also a funky fit in Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defense that’s known to only rush four after playing his entire career in Baltimore’s blitz-heavy 3-4 alignment.
Still if healthy, and if the Jets believe he can transition to a 4-3 defensive end, he may be a quality depth piece that can help in both phases.
Could the Jets reunite with Carl Lawson?
Lawson was one of Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas’s first moves to reinvigorate a pass rush that had wallowed in mediocrity for far too long. Signing a three-year, $45 million dollar contract Lawson’s tenure in Green and White got off to an inauspicious start tearing his Achilles in training camp before ever suiting up in a regular season game for the Jets.
His 2022 season was solid, if not spectacular, featuring seven sacks and acceptable run defense, however, his 2023 season saw him get pushed aside by younger players, spending most of the year as a healthy scratch.
Now a member of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad Lawson could be signed to the active 53-man roster by any team. Given his scheme familiarity with head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s defense, as well as his ability to competently play the pass or the run, Lawson could make some sense.
On the other hand, it’s tough to say if he’d be open to a return to Gotham after essentially being cast aside by the Jets last year.
All four options here have their warts, and none may have the upside of UDFA’s like McGregor and Watts, but they would provide a floor with veteran experience that could help stabilize the unit. Keep an eye out in the coming days to see if the Jets make a move.
