Aaron Glenn could change everything for this Jets breakout candidate

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn wasted no time trying to add a defensive tackle with star potential in the 2026 NFL offseason, as he traded a Robert Saleh holdover in Jermaine Johnson II to Saleh's new Tennessee Titans squad to bring T'Vondre Sweat to town. Physically, Sweat has everything he needs to become a productive long-term starter.

ESPN's Ben Solak believes that Sweat will be the player who truly breaks out more than any other on this Jets roster in 2026, citing the fact that it often takes defensive tackles multiple seasons to hit their stride.

Solak's claim was also based on the idea that Glenn is going to be the force multiplier Sweat needed and Brian Callahan failed to become.

Solak thinks Glenn's best trait as a coach is motivating players and leading, which could be enough to get Sweat turned around. A fired-up Sweat improving on his Titans career could be enough to take this defense from a subpar unit to one of the better ones in the AFC.

Aaron Glenn could make T'Vondre Sweat Jets' breakout star

Sweat may have been traded to reunite Saleh and Johnson along with some concerns about his fit in the new scheme, but his production over his first two years is not the type of performance that should be discounted. Pro Football Focus graded him as the fifth-best defensive lineman in football last year despite conditioning concerns.

With the Jets seemingly willing to switch to more three-defensive-lineman looks in 2026, having Sweat as the nose tackle may have a transformative impact on this defense. With Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata, Jowon Briggs, and rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. joining Sweat on the defensive line, New York is going all-in on trying to stop the run.

Even amid some early losing in both Detroit and New York, players are still very receptive to Glenn's motivational style. The Jets heard similar concerns when they acquired Jarvis Brownlee Jr. from Tennessee last year, and he was quite productive last year. It's not hyperbole to suggest that Sweat has Pro Bowl and All-Pro potential.

Even as Glenn's coaching reputation has taken a hit due to the lackluster way in which his Jets career started, his ability to motivate and lead could be the secret ingredient that turns Sweat from a very good player to someone who can anchor the Jets' defensive line for years to come.

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