The Jets' defense has always been its strongest attribute since Robert Saleh became head coach in 2021.
It's a big reason why the Jets, despite awful quarterback play, won seven games in each of the past two seasons. And with Aaron Rodgers expected to return to full strength following his Week 1 Achilles tear in 2023, this unit should be dominant once again.
But the Jets didn't add much to the defense in the 2024 NFL Draft. New York spent only two of its seven selections on defense — both of which were defensive backs and with their final two picks. The team also lost Bryce Huff in free agency and traded away veteran defensive end John Franklin-Myers. The Jets did, however, trade for Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick.
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Despite the losses of Huff and Myers, the Jets retained most of their key players. C.J. Mosley, Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson are all back for another year of development under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and the rest of the unit remains strong at every position.
So after all that, where do the Jets rank defensively compared with the rest of the NFL? Let's take a look.
Where does the Jets' defense rank after 2024 NFL Draft?
Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine ranked all 32 NFL teams following the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jets finished second on that list. Only the Browns ranked higher.
Ballentine pointed to that as well as how this unit performed despite starting Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle for most of the season:
Robert Saleh has built a defensive juggernaut in New York. The Jets got almost no help from the offense in 2023 and still managed to finish 10th in scoring defense, first in yards allowed per play and third in EPA per play.
They did it by pairing a pass rush that finished fourth in pressure percentage with a secondary that racked up 17 interceptions and 90 passes defended. Most of those pieces come back. They lost Bryce Huff in free agency and traded away Jonathan Franklin-Myers, but they also brought in Haason Reddick in a separate trade and signed Javon Kinlaw. They still boast a deep group of pass-rushers and the secondary is mostly intact.
The biggest issue for Ballentine is the age of some of the Jets' most important players. Mosley — the centerpiece of the defense in the middle of the field — is 32. Reddick is 30 and starting safety Chuck Clark is 29 a year after he tore his ACL in OTAs this past season. The youth is tremendous, but the Jets will also need support from their aging veterans.
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The secondary depth is also another flaw in the defense. Gardner and fellow starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II are good, but there is no support behind them if one or more go down with injuries.
The Jets drafted Qwan'Tez Stiggers in the sixth-round and added Isaiah Oliver in free agency, but neither a sure-bets to step in and play well as starters. There isn't good safety depth behind Clark and Tony Adams, either.
