Position Reset for '25
The top two spots on the Jets' depth chart at linebacker are written in stone -- Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. Beyond those two holdovers, however, is an opportunity for several players. That group includes four rookies, a well-traveled former first-round draft pick and several largely untested returning players.
Williams, who is entering his fifth season with the Jets, was an Associated Press First-Team All-Pro in the 2023 season. But things changed for the older brother of DT Quinnen Williams and for the Jets when the veteran and emotional heart of the defense -- C.J. Mosley -- missed most of last season because of injury. Mosley was then released by the team in March and announced his retirement from the NFL in mid-June. The dynamic at linebacker was turned on its head, but then Sherwood, who tied for the league lead with 95 solo tackles, began to turn heads as he came into his own in his fourth professional season. He was rewarded with a contract extension as one of the first moves under GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn.
"Coming from college [a fourth-round pick out of Auburn], being a safety, coming to the NFL, coming to the Jets organization, getting transitioned to linebacker, you don't know what's going to happen," Sherwood said. "Being able to accomplish something as an extension, it's just been a blessing.
"Tearing my Achilles my rookie year, them still believing in me and giving me a chance just because they saw my determination and how I handled the process of rehab and stuff like that. Getting my chance each year. My second year, maybe 20 plays total. Third year, moving into the linebacker spot and ultimately getting my chance to show what I can do. So again, it's just all been a blessing."
In addition to the departure of Mosley, backup Chazz Surratt signed with San Francisco in free agency and Sam Eguavoen, who played in 17 games last season, remains unsigned.
DC Steve Wilks loves his starting twosome.
"I do love the two that I have," Wilks said. "The thing that you have to have in this day and time is speed, and they have that. That's the thing that we look for, being able to run sideline to sideline, but still having the physicality to be able to get downhill and get the double teams off. It goes back to, again, our weapons; eyes, hands, hips, and feet and being violent with our strike. Those guys have that."
Beyond Williams (5-11, 230) and Sherwood (6-2, 216) , Wilks will have to figure out his third 'backer and which players are capable of spelling the starting duo, particularly in case of injury. Marcelino McCrary-Ball (6-0, 214) played in 12 games last season, mostly on special teams. Jamin Davis (6-3, 234), a former first-round pick of Washington, was claimed off waivers and the Jets hope that playing for Glenn and Wilks could help energize his career. Francisco Mauigoa (6-2, 229) was drafted out of Miami in April in the fifth round (No. 162 overall) and has the size and speed to contribute on special teams and grab some defensive snaps. Zaire Barnes (6-1, 227), who was limited to four games as a rookie and landed on injured reserve last season with an ankle injury, enters his third season with the Green & White.
| Jets LB | '24 Team(s) | Exper in '25 | '24 GP-GS-DNP-IA | '24 D-ST-TotSnaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamien Sherwood | NYJ | 5th | 17 - 16 - 0 - 0 | 1065 - 113 - 1178 |
| Quincy Williams | NYJ | 7th | 17 - 17 - 0 - 0 | 1138 - 13 - 1151 |
| Marcelino McCrary-Ball | NYJ | 2nd | 12 - 0 - 0 - 0 | 3 - 200 - 203 |
| Jamin Davis | 4 teams | 5th | 9 - 0 - 4 - 3 | 107 - 53 - 160 |
| Jermaine Johnson | NYJ | 4th | 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 | 82 - 11 - 93 |
| Zaire Barnes | NYJ | 3rd | ........... | .......... |
| Jackson Sirmon | NYJ | 1st | .......... | .......... |
| Kiko Mauigoa | Miami | R | .......... | .......... |
| Aaron Smith | S.Carolina St. | R | .......... | .......... |
| Jared Bartlett | Cincinnati | R | .......... | .......... |
| Ja'Markis Weston | Florida | R | .......... | .......... |
Storyline to Watch
Who will be the third man -- Jamin Davis, Kiko Mauigoa, Marcelino McCrary-Ball or Jamin Davis?
Davis was the 19th overall pick out of Kentucky in the 2021 NFL Draft but has yet to find an NFL home through spells with Washington, Green Bay (practice squad) and Minnesota. Mauigoa, a rookie, is a downhill thumper while McCrary-Ball has mostly been a special teamer and Barnes will look for a clean bill of health.
Beyond them is a group of rookies and undrafted free agents battling for roster spots.
The search for depth at the positions will be one of the big storylines of training camp and beyond.
What They're Saying
Aaron Glenn on Quincy Williams:
"I told Quincy when he first came and met with me, there are some things that I want him to work on, and he is doing everything he can to get better at those things. Listen, I don't lie to players, and he's a really good player, but there's also some things that he's got to get better at, and he understands that. That just goes to show you the sign of a really, really good player because they're OK with criticism, and in this league, even the best players get criticized, but they want to be, too, because they want to be better. And he's one of those guys that wants to be better. I pulled him in my office, told him some things he's got to work on. He knows the things he's good at, and the things he's got to work on, he's doing everything he can to get better at those things."
LB Trivia
With MLB C.J. Mosley out most of the season due to injury, Jamien Sherwood stepped into the breach and posted career highs with 17 games, 16 starts and 1,065 defensive snaps. His 95 solo tackles tied with Arizona S Budda Baker for most in the NFL. And Sherwood's 154 total tackles tied for 4th in the league and were 4th-most by a Jets defender since 1997, trailing only Jonathan Vilma's 173 tackles in '05 and Mosley's 168 in '21 and 158 in '22.
