Even before the first sweat beads form in training camp, the first snap of the preseason and the Jets' regular-season opener against Pittsburgh at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 7, the team's defensive coordinator already knows the score.

"Everything we do starts up front," Steve Wilks said during OTAs.

Of course Wilks is talking about his defensive front, a group that is the linchpin to all that transpires against the opposition's offense. And building on the group that returns -- Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald IV, Jermaine Johnson(who is returning from injury), Micheal Clemons, Leonard Taylor III and others -- will play an outsize role in the 2025 NFL season.

"I don't care if it's stopping the run, getting to the quarterback, creating a new line of scrimmage," Wilks said.

Now working under HC Aaron Glenn, a respected DC during his time in Detroit, Wilks and the Jets should benefit from the addition of three veteran defenders -- DT Jay Tufele, DT Derrick Nnadi and edgeRashad Weaver -- all of whom are not yet 30 years old.

"I always say it's early because we're still in shorts and t-shirts," Wilks said during the recent mandatory minicamp. "You see exactly the identity of a lot of the individuals, but from a standpoint of the effort, the urgency, the tempo, the things that we are asking the guys to do, I'm pleased."

Jay Tufele: I Can't Wait to Get Out There

One of HC Aaron Glenn's prime directives after he assumed his position in late January was to build around DT Quinnen Williams at the heart of the defensive line.

Signed in mid-March, Jay Tufele (6-3, 305) played 13 games, the most in his four-year NFL career, last season for the Bengals and totaled 15 tackles, 0.5 sacks and 2 QB hits. At native of Salt Lake City, he played in 30 games and started 5 during his three seasons with Cincinnati and had 42 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits, 0.5 sacks and 1 pass defense. He was drafted out of USC by the Jaguars in 2021 and appeared in 4 games during his only season with Jacksonville.

"Man, Quinnen is a beast," Tufele, 25, said about the guy at the heart of the line. "I mean, in my eyes, he's one of the guys, one of the greats in this game right now. So to be able to play with him, line up right next to him is a dream come true for me."

Tufele was the second lineman signed in the offseason after Jets GM Darren Mougey obtained DT Byron Cowart.

"I think this defensive line is one of the best defensive lines I've ever played with," Tufele said. "And I can't wait to get out there. And just get after them. Get after the QB."

Now with some time off before the start of training camp in late July, Tufele said he will be ready.

"The biggest part of my game is I want to show that I can rush the passer," he said. "I can get after that QB and I can work with my guys and whatever they need me to do, wherever they need me to line up. I want to show them that I can do that and just get after it with my guys. I can't wait."

Derrick Nnadi: A Champion's Pedigree

Seven seasons in the NFL. Three Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jets believe they landed a winner when they signed unrestricted free agent DT Derrick Nnadi at the very start of the free agency period in March.

Through OTAs and minicamp, Nnadi has been able to get a sense of what's to come, especially as he interacts with and gets comfortable working with Quinnen Williams in the middle of the D-line.

"It's been cool," Nnadi, 29, said. "To actually [get to] know these types of guys, learn from them and share some stories, things I've experienced, things we've experienced, and help us as a unit grow even better."

He added: "We rushing, we attacking. The biggest one is we're attacking on all phases, from the front lines, linebackers, DBs. We're attacking everything."

Nnadi (6-1, 310) had played for KC since he was selected out of Florida State in the third round (No. 75 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He quickly became a fixture on the D-line, playing in 16 games as a rookie. Over his seven seasons, he never played in fewer than 15 games (a total of 115), has taken 3,063 defensive snaps, racking up 233 total tackles, 5 sacks, 8 QB hits and 7 TFL. In addition, he added 38 tackles and a sack in 18 postseason games (12 starts), including four of KC's five most recent Super Bowl appearances.

It's early, but Nnadi said he's been impressed by the energy HC Aaron Glenn brings.

"He definitely brings a lot of energy," Nnadi said. "He played back in the day, so he knows the kind of energy he needs to bring and instill in his players. I see that every day, because we come out with a lot of energy, a lot of fire, whether it's offense, defense, special teams, we come out to execute."

Rashad Weaver: It Kind of Just Clicks

In his four seasons in the NFL -- three with Tennessee and one with Houston -- Rashad Weaver has had to adjust to new teammates and new environments. After signing with the Jets in free agency in March and taking part in OTAs and minicamp, Weaver, 27, said he has settled in quickly.

"You know, anytime you get into a new building, the first couple weeks are kind of slow, and everybody just gets used to each other, and then after two weeks, we're all just football players, and it kind of just clicks," Weaver said. "And just to see everybody's personality and different skill sets and attitude that we bring on and off the field and you can kind of see how it'll mold the room and take us where we need to go. And everybody kind of has their own role and, and that's what I'm most excited for."

Weaver, who can play on the D-line and at linebacker, had his two most productive seasons with the Titans in 2022 and 2023 when he appeared in a combined 31 games and made 47 tackles with 5.5 sacks and 11 TFL.

"I'm in a place right now where I'm just earning my role," he said. "I've had a lot of ups and downs. I try not to look too much into that anymore. So I just feel my role is to carve my role out onto this roster, and then when it is my time, it'll just happen."