Brandon Graham rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

3. New York Jets

If a player has a pulse and can rush the passer, they will be linked to the Jets this offseason. The Jets’ defense underachieved in 2018 despite a boatload of former first round picks on the roster, but one area where they were particularly deficient was in the pass rush.

As a team, the Jets recorded only 39 sacks, tied with three other teams for 16th in the league, but 14 of those sacks came from Jordan Jenkins and Henry Anderson, players who are best suited to play in a 3-4. The Jets are switching to a 4-3 under new coordinator Gregg Williams, which should help guys like Leonard Williams be more productive, but none of their edge players are a good fit for the scheme.

Graham would be a tremendous fit for the Jets as a 4-3 pass-rushing end, and he would benefit from playing alongside talented players like Williams, who could free him up for more one on one matchups. The Jets have been trying to find an edge rusher since they traded John Abraham to Atlanta after the 2005 season, cycling through a mix of draft busts (Vernon Gholston, Quentin Coples), veterans on their last legs (Jason Taylor), and retreads (Aaron Maybin).

No one is saying that Graham will be the next Abraham, but he would be a competent starter in a 4-3 scheme and help the Jets’ defense get after the passer. The Jets may look to go for a younger player like Trey Flowers or Dante Fowler Jr first, but if they whiff on those options Graham would be a solid fallback plan.