4 intriguing free-agent linebackers who could fill sneaky Jets need

Linebacker is no longer the defensive glamor position that it once was, but that doesn't mean that it's not a need for the New York Jets as free agency rapidly approaches. Jamien Sherwood, fresh off signing a three-year, $45 million contract, was benched in late October due to poor play.

While Sherwood rebounded somewhat, the totality of his season was underwhelming. Meanwhile, Quincy Williams is a free-agent and rumor has it he'd prefer to play in a Robert Saleh-esque scheme for one of his former coaches in either Tennessee or Atlanta.

The complexion of the defense is changing as well. Steve Wilks ran an abomination of what Saleh typically employs, with few variations. With Aaron Glenn taking over play-calling duties and Brian Duker serving as his right-hand man, what we can expect from a schematic standpoint is changing.

We saw the beginnings of that with the Jermaine Johnson-T'Vondre Sweat trade. In the past, New York had no need for a 360-pound two-gapping nose tackle. Now, the 366-pound Sweat figures to be a staple of the defensive line.

With all that in mind, it shouldn't be a surprise if the Jets make a move at linebacker early. Sherwood will be sticking around due to the $24 million dead cap the team would take on by cutting him, but a new partner in crime and some different depth options could be on the table.

Four intriguing free-agent linebacker targets for the Jets to target

Alex Anzalone

The most obvious of all the options, Alex Anzalone worked with Aaron Glenn not once but twice. The pair were together first in New Orleans, and then again in Detroit, where Anzalone was the captain of Glenn's defenses. Who better than to help shepherd the roster through Glenn's changes than his former signal caller?

The 31-year-old might not be a superstar, but he's solid in all facets of the game, from run defense to pass coverage to tackling. He's also bigger than Sherwood (a former college safety) and the speed-over-strength backers the previous regime favored. That might be a deciding factor for the Jets as they look to integrate even more 3-4 looks into their hybrid front.

Malcolm Rodriguez

Another Glenn protege, Malcolm Rodriguez, would represent a younger, cheaper option for Gang Green in free agency. He'll turn 27 at the end of March, giving him some potential upside still, and while injuries have impacted his career, there is some talent here.

The former sixth-round pick really came into his own in 2024 under Glenn, particularly as a run defender. He earned a stellar 87.1 run defense grade, which paired with a serviceable 65.4 coverage grade for a very respectable 74.4 overall mark.

A torn ACL on Thanksgiving Day ended his season and ate a chunk of his 2025 season as well, but now fully healed, he could be a cheap difference maker.

Christian Harris

Over his four-year career, Christian Harris has dealt with a number of problematic injuries for three of those four years. The one relatively healthy year he had was in 2023, which looked like a breakout season for the Alabama product.

Playing the WILL, he excelled in coverage with a 72.2 coverage grade and a 92.3 passer rating allowed, including postseason action. Having just turned 25 in January, he's the sort of young, high-upside free agent that Darren Mougey should be targeting.

Micah McFadden

Looking to the crosstown Giants, another under-the-radar target could be Micah McFadden. After missing nearly the entire 2025 season after a Week 1 foot injury required surgery, McFadden could be a nice buy-low candidate on a prove-it deal.

He's had some issues with missed tackles in the past and carries a 15.6% whiff rate for his career, but he's been relatively stout in run defense, decent in pass coverage, and an effective blitzer in the past. At 26 years old, he also fits the young free-agent bill like Harris.

Giving him the opportunity to prove he's healthy and then deciding on a long-term future next year when Sherwood's contract becomes more escapable could make a lot of sense.