After the Jets' seismic trades of CB Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis and DT Quinnen Williams to Dallas prior to the NFL's deadline Tuesday afternoon, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is keeping his focus on the players on the roster.
Rookie CB Azareye'h Thomas (6-1, 197), a third-round pick from Florida State, made his first pro start in Cincinnati before the bye with Gardner in concussion protocol. Thomas had 6 tackles in the Jets' 39-38 win over the Bengals and he will look to build off that performance Sunday against the Browns at MetLife Stadium.
"It's never been too big for him," Wilks, speaking on Thursday, said of Thomas. "I love his confidence. I love his poise, his humility. The guy works hard each and every day. When you talk about his physical traits, he's long, physical at the line of scrimmage, can run. So, I'm excited about the opportunity that he has now to be able to step up and continue to be able to start for us and make plays."
While Thomas has appeared in 101 defensive snaps this season, fellow rookie Malachi Moore has started five games in the defensive backfield including the past three contests at safety. After veteran Andre Cisco (shoulder/arm) was placed on injured reserve this week, Moore, a fourth-round pick from Alabama, will be counted on more as a communicator.
"When I say you talk about Cisco being out now, is that taking a more of a leadership role back there," Wilks said. "TA [Tony Adams] is back in the fold for us. Malachi, now, just being a little bit more vocal, making the checks now since Cisco is out, getting everybody aligned. Just that communication piece."
Over eight games this season, Moore has totaled 34 tackles and 1 PD. Rookie LB Kiko Mauigoa, a fifth-round pick from Miami, has also appeared in eight games and started five contests. He has registered 34 tackles and is expected to be counted on this weekend to help slow down the Browns' run game that features rookie Quinshon Judkins.
"I've seen a lot of development and growth, even coming out of the game with Denver in London," Wilks said of Mauigoa. "Just his physical play downhill and that's one of the biggest things that we're talking about as a defense, our identity and really trying to help the guys up front with a lot of the duo runs that we get and the double teams we got to be great getting downhill and then physical in getting the double teams off and you see that with him. His ability to be able to rush now as a blitzer. I think he's progressed and got better with that and that's always the key with me in the fact that who can get to the quarterback and trying to put guys in a position to be successful."
While veteran LB Quincy Williams told reporters this week that he had lost his starting job, Wilks maintained Williams will continue to play a significant role.
"Quincy is still a major part of what we are trying to accomplish and get done," Wilks said. "I think he may have said it yesterday to you guys, just the details that we talk about and that's with everybody. You know, great eyes, the valid play, playing downhill particularly at that linebacker position, using your hands, and I think he's still going to be a part of what we are trying to accomplish and get done. As you know up front, it's still fluid up there. We rotate guys. We have different packages that we have within the defense as far as base, nickel, dime. So, I still see him being a part of what we are trying to accomplish."
In addition to obtaining several draft assets for Quinnen Williams and Gardner, the Jets received DT Mazi Smith in the package from Dallas and later acquired CB Ja'Sir Taylor from the Chargers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2028. Smith (6-3, 337), the No. 26 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, had 57 tackles, 7 TFL and 2 sacks in 39 games with the Cowboys. Taylor, a sixth-round pick of the Chargers in 2022, has 84 tackles and 14 PDs in 57 games with the 'Bolts.
"Great additions for us. I'm glad we got them," Wilks said. "Taylor gives you that flexibility on the back end from the standpoint of just being able to practice inside and outside. Mazi right here, a high draft pick, high-motor guy, can stop the run. So, it's just really getting those guys in the fold, getting them up to speed with the playbook and seeing how things go."
With change being the one constant in the NFL, Wilks is happy to be pressing ahead with his altered group against a Browns' offense that ranks 30th in scoring (15.8 pts/g) and 32nd in yds/play (4.12).
"I have total confidence, total confidence, in the guys that we have here," Wilks said. "AZ, Brandon Stephens, Malachi, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., I can keep going on and on about the guys on the back end as well as the front because of what I've seen. I saw the toughness, the physicality, the competitive nature -- we can win with that. And those are the guys right here that, again, I'm excited about to coach and I'm looking forward going into this next game."
