Everything you need to know about NY Jets rookie DE Tyler Baron

Going into April’s draft, the NY Jets had several key needs to address. In the later rounds, they turned their focus to adding youth and depth on defense, starting in the fifth round with the selection of a promising linebacker from Miami at pick No. 162.

Just 14 picks later, they did it again. After taking Francisco Mauigoa, the Jets went back to the Miami pipeline and selected his college teammate, edge rusher Tyler Baron, with the 176th overall pick.

Baron is a project who the Jets hope to develop into an effective pass rusher on the outside in the future. Here’s everything you need to know about the newest member of the Jets' defense.

All in the family

Football runs deep in the Baron family. Tyler’s older brother, Woody Baron (no relation to... you know), played at Virginia Tech before enjoying a successful eight-year run in the CFL with Montreal, British Columbia, and Toronto.

Tyler has looked up to Woody for as long as he can remember. That admiration goes back to when he was just two years old, sneaking into his big brother’s team photo.

From photobombing youth football pictures to starring at Knoxville Catholic High School and eventually signing with his hometown Volunteers during the height of the COVID pandemic, Tyler has always lived and breathed football.

But it doesn’t stop there. Tyler’s father, Patrick Abernathy, was an all-state linebacker at Stratford High School in Nashville and went on to play at Tennessee State University, even lining up alongside Hall of Famer Richard Dent.

Abernathy later returned to the sport in a new role, serving as the director of player development at the University of Tennessee, which brings us to Tyler’s college days.

From hometown hero to fifth-year mercenary

It’s every kid’s dream to one day suit up for their hometown team. For Baron, that dream became reality when he spent four years playing in Knoxville for the Tennessee Volunteers.

His college career was a steady progression. Baron appeared in all 10 games as a freshman but didn’t earn his first starts until his sophomore year. That season, he started five of 13 games and recorded 30 tackles with four sacks.

His junior season saw a dip in production, as he started just three games and finished with 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks. But he bounced back in 2023, starting 12 games and notching six sacks in his senior campaign.

After the 2023 season, Baron decided to move on from Knoxville and entered the transfer portal. That’s when things got a little rocky.

He initially committed to Ole Miss in December, then flipped to Louisville in January. Finally, in May 2024, he changed course again, landing at Miami. Such is life in today’s college football world.

Baron made the most of his one season with the Hurricanes, finishing with a team-leading and career-high 38 tackles and 5.5 sacks. His decision to transfer paid off, as he earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors and punched his ticket to the 2025 NFL Draft.

Physical specimen with a long way to go

Baron’s college production doesn’t jump off the page. Over five seasons, he was never a consistent starter, and his stats reflect that. He’s far from a sure thing.

But this pick is more about traits and potential than polish. Baron isn’t walking into the NFL ready to dominate left tackles. He’s a developmental prospect with intriguing upside.

At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Baron has impressive size for an edge rusher. While he lacks elite agility, he compensates with a relentless motor and strong second-effort potential. He’s not overpowering, but he’s crafty at the point of attack. One play, he might gamble and lose contain; the next, he’s flashing a cross-chop and recording a sack.

There’s still plenty of work to be done. His floor is low, and he’ll need to prove he can hold up against the run and beat NFL-caliber blockers with consistency. The tools are there, he just has to put them together.

Where Tyler Baron fits moving forward

As mentioned, Baron is a developmental prospect. You likely won’t see much of him in 2025 unless he exceeds expectations.

The best-case scenario is that he flashes in training camp, earns early reps, and carves out a rotational role as a pass rusher. The worst-case? He lacks the burst to beat tackles or the strength to power through them and fades out quickly.

The most realistic outcome is somewhere in the middle: Baron shows flashes in the preseason, then sees limited action until he earns a role on clear passing downs. That’s his clearest path to sticking in the league and making an impact.

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