Over the last two seasons, the New York Jets have transformed into one of the best defenses in the NFL. In 2022, New York finished fourth in total defense and last year Gang Green finished third in the NFL in total defense. Headlined by Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, New York has shut down some of the most elite quarterbacks in football throughout the last two seasons.
Even with this defense performing at one of the highest levels with star players, there are still pieces waiting to take their impact and play to another level. Today, let’s look at three players on the Jets’ defense that could break out this season.
New York Jets Defensive Breakout Candidates
Will McDonald
When the New York Jets selected Will McDonald 15th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft it sent a shockwave of surprise throughout the fanbase. EDGE rusher was not needed for New York; instead, they could have looked at either offensive line help or another weapon at wide receiver. McDonald joined an already loaded defensive line room during his rookie year, which included Jermaine Johnson and Bryce Huff in front of him on the depth chart.
In limited playing time as a rookie, McDonald finished the 2023 season with 14 total tackles and three sacks in 15 games. With the playing time McDonald was receiving as a rookie in a developmental role, those numbers don’t come as much of a surprise. However, one positive statistic that should give Jets fans confidence in the second-year EDGE rusher is McDonald’s 16% pass-rush win rate which ranked as the seventh-best win rate for a rookie EDGE rusher since 2006.
Entering 2024, McDonald will have a lot of eyes on him. Despite trading for Haason Reddick, New York lost John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff, both players contributed significantly to the EDGE position for the Jets. This allows McDonald to get more playing time which he must take advantage of. The second-year EDGE rusher has all the athletic tools to be great now it’s time to put other parts of his game together and produce at a high level. Look for McDonald’s to take a year two jump similar to the one made by Jermaine Johnson.
Tony Adams
Like a few potential breakout candidates on offense, Tony Adams has been one of the better stories for the New York Jets on defense. Adams, a UDFA out of Illinois in 2022, had an outside chance of making the roster that summer. However, after an impressive camp and a few other roster moves Adams found himself on the 53-man roster and has shown consistent progress at the safety position.
After playing in a limited role and appearing in just eleven games during his rookie season, Adams took a large jump in 2023. The UDFA out of Illinois had 83 total tackles, three interceptions, five passes defended, and six tackles for loss in 15 games. Adams’ six tackles for loss led all Jets safeties while his three interceptions were tied for second on the team and his 83 total tackles ranked fourth most on the team.
Tony Adams has gone through smooth development during his first two seasons which sets him up for a big year three leap in 2024. Adams will have an upgrade playing next to him with Chuck Clark re-signing with the team after missing all of last season due to a torn ACL. That on top of the continued experience should give Jets fans confidence that Tony Adams can break out and reach another level this year.
Javon Kinlaw
In 2020, Javon Kinlaw was one of the top defensive draft prospects after impressing during his three years of college football at South Carolina. That led to Kinlaw being selected 14th overall by the San Francisco 49ers that spring and to say he has been a disappointment through his first four seasons would be an understatement. One of Kinlaw’s biggest issues has been his inability to stay on the field.
In his four seasons, Kinlaw has played in just 41 games which averages out to 10.25 games per year through his first four seasons in the NFL. However, last season was a positive for Kinlaw as the defensive tackle played all 17 games and played the best football of his career. Kinlaw finished the season with 25 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and six QB hits. After going two years without a sack those 3.5 sacks while not impressive were a career high. 2023, was the first time Kinlaw showed he could be turning a corner as he enters his fifth NFL season.
Despite it being an under-the-radar, one-year deal for the Jets, Kinlaw enters 2024 with some pressure as his role in the Big Apple will be much greater. Reuniting with his former defensive coordinator and now head coach Robert Saleh the defensive tackle will be a key piece up front with a potential breakout on the horizon.
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