3-4 or 4-3?
When it comes to the defensive scheme second-year HC Aaron Glenn and the Jets plan to use, the situation is -- shall we say -- fluid.
"You do hear that a lot, and I will say this, we are, we will be a multiple defense," Glenn said when he met with reporters on Tuesday at the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, AZ. "So there will be elements of 4-3, there will be elements of 3-4. And I think sometimes it's overwhelming.
"When you look at it, you're in nickel like 70 percent of the time. So you're in a four-down [lineman] space for the most part. So once you go to base defense, man, there's a number of things that you can do. I love front variations. So you will see some four-down fronts, you will see some five-down fronts and you will see a lot of movement within that. So, I don't want to sit here and say exactly who we're going to be, because we're going to be a little bit of everything But it'd be easy for all players to be able to compete."
The message, in light of the multiple moves on defense made so far this offseason by GM Darren Mougey and Glenn, is that the Jets' defense -- with the HC calling the plays while he works with new defensive coordinator Brian Duker -- will be ready for anything. The 2026 Jets' defense promises to be flexible, changeable, variable.
The core of the defensive line -- Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs and Will McDonald IV -- will return, joined by the signings in free agency of DE Joseph Ossai, DTs Kingsley Jonathan and David Onyemata, and the acquisition via trade of DT T'Vondre Sweat. Add veteran linebacker Demario Davis, returning for his third go-round with the Green & White, plus a fortified defensive backfield with S Minkah Fitzpatrick (via trade with Miami) and a pair of free agents in CB Nahshon Wright and S Dane Belton to support whatever formations Glenn conjures up front.
"We were one of the youngest teams in the NFL [last season]," Mougey said at the league meeting. "We talked about that in the offseason and targeted a few guys. We were able to land those guys and feel really good about the team and where we're at now."
Glenn echoed his GM, saying: "To be able to have an influx of these veteran guys to be to teach these guys exactly how does the locker room need to operate. How do you finish out games? And I'm saying that is because guys like Demario, who I've been with, guys like David Onyemata, who I've been with, guys like Minka."
Enagbare, 26, is one of those versatile youngish veterans who excites Glenn with his adaptability and versatility.
"Kingsley, 6-5, 270. When you look at the defenses I've been on from New Orleans to Detroit to now, man, he fits exactly," Glenn said. "I call him a rusher, which is really a defensive end. From Cam Jordan, to Hutch (Aiden Hutchinson), like he fits that mold of that type. Now, totally different players, but as far as what we're trying to build to make sure that we have a guy on the edge that can really set it, and then be able to rush with power, alright so he was one of them."
Ossai (6-4, 263), who will turn 26 on April 13, appeared in 61 games with the Bengals from 2022-25 and tallied 116 tackles, 16 TFL and 14.5 sacks.
"Ossai, he can do a lot of different things," Glenn said. "He can play the rush, he can play the SAM, he can drop into coverage, he's played special teams quite a bit, he's disruptive. I mean, he had like 5 or 6 years the last two years, so we can utilize him in a number of different spots, and I think that's the best thing about where we're at right now because we have a number of guys that we can maneuver and move around to do some things."
The newcomers will allow Glenn to get creative with his best pass rusher – McDonald IV. Over his past 32 games, the explosive, bendy McDonald IV has racked up 21.5 sacks.
"I mean I can't wait to see the things that we're going to do with Will," Glenn said. "You guys can't wait to see what we're going to do with Will. So, just excited right now to have those guys, and we have, like that many weapons on defense to be able to do some things."
