Team Needs: EDGE

Overview

The Jets have invested a decent amount at EDGE since Joe Douglas arrived. As it stands right now they have Carl Lawson leading the way, Jermaine Johnson poised to work into an expanded role, and Bryce Huff as a passing down specialist. Micheal Clemons has also shown some capability in a limited role. It's a good group especially with John Franklin-Myers kicking out to defensive end on early downs. But this Jets scheme needs great from EDGE. I think they'd be wise to invest in the EDGE group of this draft class. If there's a position to have "too much" options in, it's EDGE. A high upside pick would have the opportunity to grow into their role and push the group as a whole.

Current Staff

DL Coach: Aaron Whitecotton

Asst. DL Coach: Shaq Wilson

Offseason Additions

None

Current Roster

Prospects to Watch: EDGE

Will Anderson Jr.

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EDGE

Alabama - #31

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior

Height: 6'3 3/4"

Weight: 253 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

A torpedo of a stand up rusher with high end run instincts and SEC production, Anderson is a top five lock.

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Grade: Early 1st Round

TRAITS

Pass Rush Artist

Run Stuffer

Contact Balance

Relentless Motor

Quick Get-Off

Accolades

2022 Bednarik Award Winner

2022 1st Team All-American

2022 SEC Defensive Player of the Year

Tyree Wilson

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EDGE

Texas Tech - #19

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior (RS)

Height: 6'6 1/8"

Weight: 271 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

A pass rusher built in a lab, Wilson possesses insane length and power. If NFL coaching helps him develop any resemblance of a pass rush plan, he'll terrorize quarterbacks. He'll be gone before pick 13.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Contact Balance

Relentless Motor

Rare Size

Accolades

1st Team All-American

B.J Ojulari

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EDGE

LSU - #18

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior

Height: 6'2 1/8"

Weight: 248 lbs

Pre-Draft Visit w/ Jets

Overview

There's a world where Ojulari falls to 44 as he still rounds out his run defense to be an every down player. His pass rush toolbox is tantalizing and would instantly contribute to Robert Saleh's front four.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Relentless Motor

Pass Rush Artist

Bendy

Myles Murphy

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EDGE

Clemson - #98

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior

Height: 6'4 5/8"

Weight: 268 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

Murphy's evaluation has a similar road to Travon Walker - he's the full package of size, power and high floor run defense. He lacks pass rush production, but part of me thinks the right scheme will unleash that ability (he does pack a powerful long arm move). He'd be the 'big end' in Saleh's defense, ultimately replacing John Franklin-Myers.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Quick Get-Off

Run Stuffer

Accolades

1st Team All-ACC

Nolan Smith

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EDGE

Georgia - #4

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'2 1/8"

Weight: 238 lbs

Overview

The green light never fully came on for Smith as a pass rusher throughout his four year college tenure, but he's still a rock solid football player up front. Despite being under 240 pounds, he made excellent plays in the run game and was regarded as a leader for a championship squad. The Jets typically deploy much larger edge defenders in their base defense.

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Grade: Late 1st round

TRAITS

Bendy

Quick Get-Off

Football IQ

Lukas Van Ness

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EDGE

Iowa - #91

Position: EDGE

Class: Sophomore (RS)

Height: 6'4 3/4"

Weight: 272 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

How often do you see a player projected to go in the top 20 that didn't even start for his college team? Van Ness fits the profile that Murphy and White do - long, strong and could have his best football ahead of him.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Bulldozer

Relentless Motor

Contact Balance

Will McDonald IV

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EDGE

Iowa State - #9

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior (RS)

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 239 lbs

Overview

An EDGE that moves like an NBA player. Will McDonald IV has astronomical pass rush upside. While his size doesn't traditionally fit a four-down lineman scheme, McDonald remains an intriguing option if he somehow makes it to day 2. You can never have too many pass rushers.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Pass Rush Artist

Bendy

Chaos Agent

Quick Get-Off

Accolades

1st Team All-Big-12

Keion White

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EDGE

Georgia Tech - #6

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior (RS)

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 286 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

A ball of clay prospect, White packs a sky high ceiling. Watching him move at 280 at the Senior Bowl site was impressive. Similar to my thought on Myles Murphy, this is a JFM replacement with more pass rush upside.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Relentless Motor

Run Stuffer

Yaya Diaby

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EDGE

Louisville - #6

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'3 1/4"

Weight: 263 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

Diaby's burst and explosive closing speed could be a weapon in a scheme that gives him the green light to attack up the field.

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Grade: Late 2nd round

TRAITS

Quick Get-Off

Felix Anudike-Uzomah

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EDGE

Kansas State - #91

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 255 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

Quietly one of the best pass rushers in the nation. The Jets could use extra juice off the EDGE and he's an excellent long term investment.

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Grade: 1st Round

TRAITS

Bendy

Relentless Motor

Isaiah Foskey

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EDGE

Notre Dame - #7

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 265 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

Isaiah Foskey's calling card is a his steady play and high effort. He might not have the highest ceiling but he has all the markings of standard holding starter much like Jordan Jenkins was for the Jets years back. The Jets should go for more of a dice-roll at EDGE but Foskey is a safe choice for those afraid of bust potential.

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Grade: 3rd Round

TRAITS

Rare Size

Relentless Motor

Accolades

1st Team All-American

Lonnie Phelps

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EDGE

Kansas - #47

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior (RS)

Height: 6'2 1/8"

Weight: 244 lbs

Overview

A passionate edge rusher with a chaotic play style, Phelps is a special teams menace with excellent effort in the front seven.

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Grade: 3rd round

TRAITS

Contact Balance

Chaos Agent

Relentless Motor

Accolades

All-Big 12 Second Team (2022)

All-MAC Second Team (2021)

Zach Harrison

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EDGE

Ohio State - #9

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 274 lbs

Scheme Fit

Overview

You can't teach length and Zach Harrison has that in terrifying abundance. Jets fans know what this coaching staff can do with those traits. Micheal Clemons was just a taste of that.

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Grade: 3rd Round

TRAITS

Rare Size

Relentless Motor

Chaos Agent

Accolades

1st Team All-Big-Ten

Byron Young (Tennessee)

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EDGE

Tennessee - #6

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 250 lbs

Overview

Byron Young has the kind of rare juice and bend off the edge that makes people invest. He likely better fits a 3-4 OLB mould but if the Jets are looking for a player that could have a similar pass rush impact as Bryce Huff has had, Young is that type of player.

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Grade: 3rd Round

TRAITS

Bendy

Quick Get-Off

Accolades

2022 1st Team All-SEC

Viliami Fehoko Jr.

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EDGE

San Jose State - #42

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 276 lbs

Overview

Viliami Fehoko is a high effort EDGE that dealt with unfortunate injury luck in 2022 that cause him to miss too many games but did limit his effectiveness. Despite that, Fehoko finished with 9 sacks and 19 tackles for loss this past season. Fehoko p...

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Grade: 5th Round

TRAITS

Relentless Motor

Pass Rush Artist

Quick Get-Off

Dylan Horton

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EDGE

TCU - #98

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior (RS)

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 257 lbs

Overview

Dylan Horton is a former high school safety turned EDGE with a room to improve. In 2022, Horton had impressive production with 10.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and 4 pass breakups. Horton measured in at 6'4" and 257 lbs at the comb...

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Grade: 5th Round

TRAITS

Relentless Motor

Brenton Cox Jr.

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EDGE

Florida - #1

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 250 lbs

Overview

In a strong EDGE class, Brenton Cox Jr. simply doesn't have the same amount of upside as the rest of the class. Cox could not keep momentum going after a strong 8 sack season in 2021. He followed it up with 2 sacks and 8 tackles for loss in 8 games i...

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Grade: 7th Round

Mathis Ochaun

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EDGE

Nebraksa - #32

Position: EDGE

Class: Junior

Height: 6"5

Weight: 250 lbs

Overview

After 4 years at TCU Ochaun transferred to Nebraska to try to build on his stellar 2020 season.

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Grade: Round 7

TRAITS

Rare Size

Noah Taylor

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EDGE

North Carolina - #7

Position: EDGE

Class: Senior

Height: 6"4

Weight: 238 lbs

Overview

Taylor transferred to North Carolina after 3 years as a starter at Virginia.

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