With the 2024 NFL draft behind us, we’ve just finished taking an in-depth look at each of the Jets’ draft picks. Now that we’ve completed that process, we’ve moved on to look at each of their undrafted free agent signings, continuing today with former Michigan edge defender Braiden McGregor.
The 22-year old McGregor is listed at 6’6” and 267 pounds. He was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection in 2023 after starting all 15 games for the national champion Michigan Wolverines and recording 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Background
McGregor was a four-star high school recruit but had to sit out his first season at Michigan after suffering a serious knee injury as a high school senior.
He made his debut in 2021 and played 62 defensive snaps as he recorded five tackles in nine games in a reserve role.
2022 saw McGregor make the first three starts of his career and he ended the season with 17 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
In 2023, McGregor became a full time starter and started all 15 games as the Wolverines went unbeaten to win the national title. He finished strong with 3.5 sacks in the last five games to finish the season with 26 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
McGregor suffered another injury at the Senior Bowl, which meant he was unable to work out at the scouting combine, but he worked out at his pro day instead and had plenty of teams interested in signing him after the draft.
NFL.com still had McGregor as a potential late round draft pick in their pre-draft coverage, but the Jets were able to sign him to an undrafted free agent contract with $220K in total guarantees.
Now let’s take a look at what McGregor brings to the table, divided into categories.
Measurables/Athleticism
McGregor has a solid frame and scouts believe he could potentially add more weight and strength. It’s felt he would benefit from this, both in terms of adding upper body and lower body strength.
He’s not an explosive athlete, but his pro day numbers for strength, explosiveness and speed were about average for the position across the board. He posted a 4.78 in the 40-yard dash, along with a 33-inch vertical and 20 bench press reps.
In the agility drills, McGregor’s short shuttle was below average and he did not participate in the three-cone drill.
Usage
McGregor lined up primarily on the edge at Michigan and was standing up most of the time, although he did put his hands in the dirt or line up inside a few times per game. They also used him as the SAM linebacker at times and he also received offers to play as an off-ball linebacker or even at tight end when he was a high school recruit.
Motor
McGregor plays with tenacity and battles in the trenches, but he was a part-time player throughout his college career. He played mostly on third down in 2021 and 2022. Even as a full-time starter in 2023, the most snaps he played in a game was 37, which was actually the national title game.
Here’s a play where he lines up with his hands in the dirt and works his way upfield for the sack.
Pass rush
McGregor only had 3.5 career sacks in his first 33 career games and ended up with seven, so he didn’t register the kind of production at the collegiate level that warranted him being drafted. Nevertheless, his pressure rates were generally consistently solid, although there were times when he struggled to do anything against highly rated opponents, including his new teammate Olu Fashanu.
Although he isn’t an elite athlete, McGregor has a quick get-off and shows the burst to beat offensive tackles around the corner.
There’s some nuance to his rush, though, as he will use footwork and head fakes to disguise his rush, and he displays some bend.
He’s had some success at rushing inside, but this has mostly been using his quickness on stunts or to avoid a lineman at the point of attack. As a bull rusher, he needs to get lower and drive his legs more, but there were signs he’d shown progress in that area during Senior Bowl practices.
Run defense
Since he played mostly on passing downs in 2021 and 2022, McGregor didn’t have much run defense production until 2023. He can struggle to fight off blocks at the point of attack.
He does show a willingness to contribute against the run though, making quick reads and pursuing well off the backside.
When he makes plays in the running game, it’s generally through using his quickness to beat blockers.
This is probably one of the main areas where McGregor will benefit from adding some more strength.
Technique
As noted, McGregor can use footwork and deception on his rush, but his hands are inconsistent, and he hasn’t had success at being productive with a wide arsenal of pass rush moves.
He shows some flashes of an expanding toolbox though. Here’s a long-arm move where he shows some power and keeps his outside arm free to enable him to finish.
While his hand placement and hand fighting techniques need refinement because he can often allow his man to get into his body, McGregor does showcase pretty good timing and an ability to get his man’s hands off him on his initial rush.
Fighting off blocks is something he needs to improve at, but he used his length well to penetrate and shed against a tight end here.
Special teams
McGregor’s main contributions on special teams have been as a blocker and he seems to have a good knack for this. There were a few examples of plays where he was the aggressor and took his man out of the play on a kickoff return.
He has also been known to showcase hustle and physicality when blocking on returns following a turnover.
He hasn’t had any real production rushing or covering kicks, but he did field a squib kick on the kickoff return unit last season.
Tackling
Although he shows effort in pursuit, McGregor wasn’t a very productive tackler, but his missed tackle rate was also low, with just nine in three seasons.
He only had one forced fumble in his college career.
Coverage
McGregor would only drop into coverage a few times per game at most, and usually just into a shallow zone. However, he will drop back and try to get in on the tackle where there’s a short pass.
He has a knack for getting his hands up to challenge passes and deflected or batted down several in college, almost controlling one for what would have been a pick-six and also setting up this turnover.
Instincts/Intelligence
McGregor makes plenty of plays where he either anticipates or reacts quickly and he has some versatility and clearly watches a lot of film.
When rushing or engaging a blocker in the running game, he noticeably keeps his head up and stays alert so he can get his hands up or disengage, and he doesn’t seem to make a lot of mistakes or bad reads.
Pass coverage is the one area where he lacks experience and is perhaps less comfortable. On this screen pass, he is late to react and gets sealed to the outside.
Attitude/Demeanor
McGregor was a two-year captain in high school and impressed the coaches at Michigan with his maturity and mentality. As a measure of his desire to be the first in everything, he submitted his letter of intent to Michigan the very moment the submission window opened and then was on the phone with the coaching staff within minutes to confirm that they received it. Obviously, he’s the kind of guy who might be the first one out on the practice field and the last to leave.
In game action, McGregor had excellent on-field discipline with just one penalty in his college career. That was for roughing the passer.
Injuries
McGregor missed the 2020 season after injuring his knee in high school. While it was initially feared that he had torn his ACL, it was just his MCL, PCL and meniscus that were affected. McGregor battled back from the injury and was keen to get back on the field the next year, but the team exercised caution.
After playing every game in 2022 and 2023, McGregor suffered a high ankle sprain at the Senior Bowl, which prevented him from working out at the combine, but not his pro day.
Scheme Fit
McGregor played in a scheme that operates differently from how the Jets do. He didn’t line up out wide and was usually standing up. This doesn’t mean that he won’t fit the Jets system. In fact, it might suit him more and unlock more potential production.
The fact he hasn’t played a big snap count at that level isn’t really a concern because the Jets don’t tend to use their edges in that way anyway.
Conclusions
The Jets like to use a lot of players on the defensive line, so there could be opportunities for a player like McGregor to get on the field if there are any injuries, even if he doesn’t make the initial roster.
While we know the Jets didn’t have a draftable grade on him, McGregor was a player with plenty of positive traits and the guaranteed salary they’re giving him probably means they have every intention of at least carrying him on the practice squad.
Hopefully they can improve his strength as he develops and it will benefit him as much as scouts suggested might be the case. If so, he could be a useful low-cost rotational edge over the next few years.
