Remember that mess the Jets’ defense was in 2025? General Manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn certainly do, and they’ve gone all-in this offseason, prioritizing proven veterans who have succeeded at the highest level to fix one of the NFL’s least productive defenses. The result is a defense boasting experienced leadership on every single level, giving New York a foundation it absolutely did not have just a year ago.
The Trenches Just Got A Whole Lot Tougher
Building a defense starts right in the trenches, and the Jets clearly heard that loud and clear. They seriously strengthened their front by adding veteran defensive tackle David Onyemata, whose deep experience should help stabilize a young defensive line. We’re talking promising players like Jowon Briggs and first-round pick David Bailey, who brings serious explosiveness off the edge. Onyemata isn’t just a body, he’s a steady presence, exactly what you need to help younger teammates adjust to the grind of the NFL. Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare are also new faces who can help Bailey acclimate himself to the pro game. That blend of youthful talent and veteran experience? That’s precisely what Glenn was hoping to create.
A Coach on the Field and a Secondary Shakedown
Few players in this league understand NFL defense better than linebacker Demario Davis. This veteran leader arrives with more than a decade of experience, bringing incredible leadership and football intelligence to a position group already anchored by Jamien Sherwood, who’s racked up more than 250 tackles over the past two seasons. Sherwood is still one of the defense’s rising stars, but Davis? He gives the Jets another coach on the field, someone capable of getting teammates lined up and accelerating the development of younger defenders. And then there’s the secondary. No addition may prove more significant than five-time Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick. He’s immediately the leader of that secondary, replacing Sauce Gardner and integrating several new cornerbacks. This kind of veteran leadership should absolutely accelerate that rebuild.
The Jets aren’t asking these veterans to carry the defense on their backs. They’re asking them to raise the standard. Young players like Bailey, Azareye’h Thomas, D’Angelo Ponds, and Briggs now have accomplished veterans to learn from every single day during practice. That mentorship could prove just as valuable as anything the coaching staff teaches. Experience alone doesn’t guarantee success, but it often helps teams avoid the costly mistakes that plagued New York just a season ago. The Jets still have to prove they can pressure quarterbacks, create takeaways, and consistently finish games. But unlike last season, Glenn’s defense now features experienced leadership on the defensive line, at linebacker, and in the secondary. If those veterans help accelerate the development of the Jets’ young talent, New York’s defense could improve much faster than last year’s record might suggest.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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