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NFL Preview: Breaking down the 2015 New York Jets

By Andrew Garda

May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles speaks to the media after the organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles speaks to the media after the organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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Muhammad Wilkerson
Oct 12, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive line

Starters: Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison

Depth: Leonard Williams [R], Leger Douzable, Kevin Vickerson, Stephen Bowen, TJ Barnes, Ronald Talley, Deon Simon [R], Davon Walls [R], Julian Howsare [R], Jordan Williams [R]

The New York Jets once again have the foundation for a tremendous defense, and if everyone plays to their potential it could be the best in the NFL.

We start in the trenches with an excellent defensive line. Mo Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson are two of the best defensive ends in the league, with Wilkerson entering the final year of his rookie contract and Richardson continues to build off his defensive rookie of the year campaign in 2013. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had them as the No. 2 and No. 3 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL, behind only J.J. Watt (way behind Watt). Between them is Damon Harrison (aka Snacks), a solid nose tackle who can clog the middle against the run but hasn’t brought much to the pass rush yet.

If the Jets trade Wilkerson, or if he holds out, expect rookie Leonard Williams to get a shot. Williams exhibits a lot of similarities to the two starting defensive ends already on the roster. As potentially the best defensive player in the draft, he represents both a shot across Wilkerson’s bow as much as great value for the team. Injury concerns hurt Williams’ stock a little, but he is a tremendous player and even if Wilkerson stays in the fold, a defense that runs as many hybrid fronts as the Jets is likely to need plenty of defensive ends.

Leger Douzable, Kevin Vickerson, and Stephen Bowen are all solid depth players, but if the starting three and Williams produce consistently, these backups will see more of the bench than the field. Once you get past them, however, guys like TJ Barnes, Ronald Talley, Deon Simon, Davon Walls, Julian Howsare, Jordan Williams are either barely average depth or inexperienced rookies. They may not even see much time on the bench – a large portion of them will either be on the practice squad or hoping for a chance elsewhere.

Even more than the secondary, the defensive line is the most critical piece of this Jets defense. If it performs as well as it seems to be poised to, the unit will be one dangerous group of players.

Next: Linebackers

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