There was competitors in coaching camp for the Jets‘ defensive deal with spot reverse Quinnen Williams.
Though coaches have mentioned they’ve been impressed with the competitors, the Jets made trades with the Browns and Vikings so as to add extra assistance on Wednesday.
The Jets acquired nostril deal with Harrison Phillips in a commerce with the Vikings for a 2026 sixth-round choose and a swap of draft picks in 2027, based on sources. The commerce for Phillips is predicted to be finalized, doubtless after the Jets’ last preseason sport towards the Eagles on Friday evening.
As a part of the commerce, the Vikings will conform to pay half of Phillips’ $7.4 million wage this season ($3.7 million). So not solely will the Jets get a top quality inside presence on the defensive position, however they can even get monetary savings within the course of.
This can mark the return to the AFC East for Phillips. He was drafted by the Payments within the third spherical of the 2017 draft and performed 4 seasons with the workforce.
Phillips, 29, initially signed a three-year, $19.5 million free agent contract with the Vikings in March 2022. He has began each sport for Minnesota since then, setting profession highs in tackles in each 2022 (59) and 2023 (92) and 5.5 sacks over that interval.
That led to Phillips signing a two-year contract extension earlier than final season. He recorded 56 tackles and two sacks in 17 video games for the Vikings in 2024.
Phillips is underneath contract for the 2026 season. Nonetheless, all of his $6.89 million is non-guaranteed, that means the Jets might launch him and save $7.5 million subsequent offseason.
The Browns initially chosen Briggs within the seventh spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. He appeared in six video games final 12 months in a backup function for Cleveland. Briggs registered 13 tackles and one deal with for loss in restricted motion.
The 6-1, 313-pound Briggs registered 170 tackles and 12 sacks throughout his 5 faculty seasons between his two seasons at Virginia and his three at Cincinnati. Briggs is a brief and stocky inside defender who has quick arms, however generally is a contributor to the Jets’ dashing protection. He possesses adequate quickness to deliver down ballcarriers and will present sufficient play in rotational conditions.
The Jets are skinny on the defensive deal with place. So the commerce so as to add Briggs makes quite a lot of sense. They’ve been on the lookout for a long-term resolution in addition to Williams, however nobody has stood out thus far. Along with Williams, the Jets’ defensive deal with room consists of Payton Web page, Jay Tufele, Leonard Taylor III, and Derrick Nnadi.
Byron Cowart, one other participant on the defensive position, had the perfect coaching camp out of the gamers who’re vying for the beginning defensive deal with spot. However he’s coping with an ankle damage and has missed the previous couple of weeks of coaching camp practices after struggling the damage on Aug. 5.
The commerce for Briggs might point out Cowart’s damage is extra severe than the Jets initially thought.
“I think it is going great,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks mentioned concerning the defensive deal with competitors reverse Williams. “Jay Tufele has stepped up. He had an important sport two weeks in the past towards Inexperienced Bay. You take a look at Leonard Taylor, he’s performing some nice issues [Phidarian Mathis] Phil, I really like what he’s doing.
“And I’m looking to get BC back into the fold, Byron Cowart. I thought those guys are doing a great job. We are looking for that balance opposite Q [Williams]. Some man that’s going to be able to demand double teams as well, so we can take some pressure off of him.”
Run protection has additionally been a difficulty for the Jets in current seasons. They allowed 121.1 dashing yards per sport final season, which was the seventeenth finest within the league.
The Jets are banking on the 6-3, 307-pound Phillips and Briggs serving to out in that space.
Initially Revealed: August 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM EDT
