Two seasons in the past, the Jets’ offensive line was one of many crew’s largest considerations.
However now, at the least on paper, it could possibly be considered one of their largest energy getting into the 2025 season.
“Obviously, you try not to pay attention to the outside noise, but me personally, I think we can be one of the better groups in the NFL,” Jets left guard John Simpson mentioned. “But that says a lot, but I do have the confidence in this group to be able to have that title.”
In 2022, the Jets’ offensive line noticed 11 gamers begin at the least one recreation, probably the most within the NFL on the time. The next season, the Jets used 14 completely different offensive line combos in 17 video games, additionally probably the most within the league.
These days look like within the rearview mirror, because the Jets have invested closely within the offensive line during the last two offseasons. In 2024, the Jets signed Simpson to a two-year, $12 million contract. That very same yr, in addition they chosen left deal with Olu Fashanu within the first spherical, who they hope will assist anchor the offensive line for the subsequent decade.
After proper deal with Morgan Moses‘ departure to New England in March, the Jets continued to fortify the offensive line by drafting Armand Membou seventh overall in April’s draft. He’ll be part of a Jets offensive line that returns 4 of 5 starters from final season [Fashanu, Simpson, center Joe Tippmann, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker].
“It’s big time in terms of the continuity,” Simpson mentioned. “Simply having the blokes realizing one another and realizing our enjoying kinds and with the ability to work off one another with out even saying a phrase generally.
“It plays a big role in who you got next to you for sure. I think it is a big deal.”
Whereas the Jets will return a number of starters on the offensive line, that doesn’t imply the gamers received’t should compete for his or her jobs, particularly below first-year coach Aaron Glenn. In March, the Jets signed former Packers beginning middle Josh Myers to a one-year, $2 million deal. On the time, it appeared he can be Tippmann’s backup, however Jets common supervisor Darren Mougey mentioned on the proprietor’s conferences that Myers would “compete” with Tippmann for the beginning job.
Myers, 26, has extra expertise after beginning 56 video games in 4 seasons. Tippmann has began 31 video games in three years.
Tippmann, 24, allowed 5 sacks in 1,067 snaps final season and dedicated 4 penalties. In accordance with Professional Soccer Focus, he graded out because the ninth-best middle within the league.
Myers was the Forty sixth-ranked middle final yr, in accordance with PFF. Nonetheless, he allowed one sack and dedicated 4 penalties in 1,006 snaps with the Packers.
Tippmann might nonetheless maintain on to his beginning middle spot, however Glenn and Mougey will make the previous second-round choose earn it. Simpson instructed reporters that Tippmann and Myers have been “battling their asses off” in OTA practices.
However it’s arduous to guage offensive line play till the pads come on throughout coaching camp.
“The physical part, you really can’t, but the mental part, you can do a great deal,” Glenn mentioned about positional battles. “That’s what we attempt to do now, is be certain that mentally we perceive precisely what’s happening, offense, protection, and particular groups.
“The players know that. When it comes to the physical part, I mean, no one makes the team in their underwear, but mentally, we want to see where everybody’s at.”
McDonald could possibly be extra dominant in Yr 3
After his terrific sophomore marketing campaign, might Jets cross rusher Will McDonald be even higher in 2025?
If final week’s OTA observe is any indication, that actually could possibly be the case. All through observe, McDonald commonly pressured Fields and registered a would-be sack.
After having three sacks in 15 video games as a rookie, McDonald had a breakthrough 2024 season. He completed with 28 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 11 tackles for loss.
McDonald has gained 15 kilos this offseason, in accordance with Glenn. That will put him over the 250-pound mark after McDonald was listed as 236 kilos final yr. The additional weight ought to assist him as a result of a greater run defender and Glenn doesn’t consider the added weight will damage McDonald’s pace.
“We never want to take that away from him,” Glenn mentioned. “That’s his superpower. It’s simply his pace off the sting. I believe he understands for him to be at his finest and to have the ability to max every little thing out of his potential, he must get stronger, he must get greater, and never to some extent the place it’s going to cease him from having that pace ball that he has on the sting, however for him to have the ability to set an edge, for him to have the ability to tackle these 320-pound tackles.
“He knows he has to be able to do that, so just from him having the awareness of that, I mean you give him a lot of credit on that, but that speed ball he has, I don’t think that’s ever going away.”
Initially Revealed: Could 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT
