Why the New York Jets are not panicking about the DT position

If there was one position group the New York Jets needed to address in the 2025 NFL draft, it was defensive tackle.

Outside of All-Pro Quinnen Williams, the Jets have failed to find a consistent running mate who could make things easier for their top interior defender. Of course, this includes their newest draft class, as none in the group play the position.

While the fanbase remains frustrated with the team’s lack of moves, that doesn’t mean the Jets will be in a bad position going into the 2025 season.

Jets’ remaining roster needs

Following the draft, the two primary New York Jets roster needs are as follows:

• Starting wide receiver opposite Garrett Wilson
• Every-down defensive tackle alongside Quinnen Williams.

Defensive tackle is more pressing simply because the Jets have quality pass catchers beyond the receiver position. Let’s not pretend running back Breece Hall and tight end Mason Taylor cannot catch the ball.

It’s hard to find quality interior defensive linemen.

The good news is that the Jets have addressed some of those needs with Derrick Nnadi, Byron Cowart, and Jay Tufele, and this is why general manager Darren Mougey wasn’t so worried about the position group following the draft.

“We feel good about the group; I mean, the guys that are in that room, a lot of those guys have played, you know, Jay (Tufele), (Derrick) Nnadi, (Byron) Cowart, those guys have played in the NFL,” Mougey said. “They know how to play the game.

“Even after this weekend, we’ll have the UFL to evaluate, we’ll have all offseason, we’re constantly looking to add pieces to the team that we think can help at all positions, so by no means is the roster ever complete.”

The Jets aren’t done adding to their roster, as no team is done at this point in the year. Fans may want those additions to happen immediately, but that doesn’t always work that way.

Patience is always something fanbases never want to hear, especially for an organization that hasn’t made the playoffs in 14 seasons and hasn’t finished over .500 in close to a decade.

Besides, the best time to add to the roster isn’t immediately after the draft; it’s after the preseason.

Cutdown advantages

Roster cutdowns following the preseason are always the best time to find talent that has been overlooked or is otherwise a victim of being in a loaded position group.

The Jets have experienced this well. Due to a previously deeper depth chart, the organization was forced to release players after opposing teams snatched them.

A prominent example is starting safety Jason Pinnock of the New York Giants. Pinnock was a former fifth-round pick by the Jets in 2021 but was released by the team during training camp in 2022 due to the improved depth of the roster.

He caught on with the Giants and had two straight years as a starter.

Countless examples of training camp cuts have caught on elsewhere for other teams. The Jets have had the experience of seeing their players get released and be successful elsewhere.

There’s no reason they can’t find quality starters along the defensive line during that period. After preseason cutdowns, analysts and fans won’t know what kind of name will be attached to the defensive tackle slot.

When that happens, the New York Jets could significantly upgrade the defensive tackle position.