The New York Jets are willing to go back to the well in 2023.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed in a column posted on Monday, March 13 that Gang Green tried signing veteran defensive lineman Linval Joseph “multiple times” this past season.
Now they could be looking to make another run at the 6-foot-4, 329-pound defender.
Persistence Is the Key for the Jets in 2023
One of the weaker positional groups heading into free agency is the interior defensive line for the green and white.
Beyond superstar Quinnen Williams, there isn’t much depth left in the pantry. Three players are set to reach the open market on Wednesday, March 15 at 4:00 pm:
In other words, the Jets need some help and there are a few options available on the open market that could make sense.
Joseph is a true veteran at 34 years of age and would bring a proven track record to the room. He has two Pro Bowl nominations during his NFL career and also won a Super Bowl championship with the New York Giants.
Rosenblatt said the Jets might have signed him during training camp but “instead opted” to use the majority of their available cap space to add offensive tackle, Duane Brown.
Gang Green tried to lure him to New York again later in the season but they couldn’t offer him enough financially.
Ultimately he decided to join the Philadelphia Eagles roster and got $2 million for eight regular season games. Rosenblatt still believes the veteran has “something left in the tank as a rotational defensive lineman.”
During his 13 years in the pros, Joseph has registered over 664 tackles, 25.5 sacks, 56 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, and 76 quarterback hits.
The former East Carolina product has appeared in 179 games and has made 170 starts in those contests.
One Other Name to Keep an Eye on for the Jets in Free Agency
Speaking of free agents the Jets kicked the tires on, there is one more to circle on your roster sheet.
Veteran defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was a player the Jets pursued last offseason, according to Rosenblatt.
The former Charlotte product is a much younger player at just 28 years of age (he will turn 29 by the start of the 2023 season).
Throughout his career, the big man has been relatively durable. In six years Ogunjobi has only missed six contests.
Ogunjobi has played in 92 games and has made 79 starts during that span of time. The veteran defensive tackle has 23 sacks, 64 quarterback hits, and has registered over 277 total tackles.
He is also much lighter than Joseph at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, and offers a slightly different skill set.
Quite frankly the Jets just need bodies on the inside. With how head coach Robert Saleh employs his defensive line rotation, whoever ends up getting added to the fold will get plenty of opportunities to strut their stuff.
Last season the Jets were a top-five defensive unit and they have a chance to be even better in 2023. There are a few positions on the defense that still need some tinkering and that should be able to be accomplished in the second and third waves of free agency.
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Jets Interested in Signing Pro Bowler After Multiple Failed Attempts