This forgotten Jets defensive lineman still has one path to the 53-man roster

The New York Jets have spent the last few months overhauling their defensive line, bringing in bigger bodies and better fits for Aaron Glenn and Brian Duker's new defensive scheme. That doesn't leave much room for holdover players like Eric Watts.

The former undrafted free agent enters training camp fighting for his NFL future after spending most of last season on the Jets' practice squad. His odds of making the Jets' roster out of training camp may be slim, but there is at least one trait working in his favor.

Day 45 of your 2026 Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the Power Source, the Spark Plug, Watt's Up (I'm so sorry)...it's Eric Watts.

The odds are stacked against him, but if Watts is going to stick around, it won't be because of his pass-rushing production. It'll be because he offers the versatility this new coaching staff might value.

1. Where Eric Watts stands entering Jets training camp
2. Eric Watts could benefit from the Jets' defensive changes
3. What would make 2026 a success for Eric Watts
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Eric Watts stands entering Jets training camp

Watts signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft, and it's fair to say he's exceeded expectations. Not only did he survive final roster cuts, but he also earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster and appeared in 14 games as a rookie.

He played roughly a quarter of the Jets' defensive snaps, earning a respectable 66.1 Pro Football Focus overall grade and a 72.1 run-defense grade. He wasn't quite as effective as a pass rusher, however.

Watts managed just five pressures on 102 pass-rush snaps and finished with a 46.1 PFF pass-rush grade. The arrival of a new coaching staff the following offseason didn't help his place on the team.

Watts spent most of the 2025 season on the practice squad, appearing in only four games late in the year as injuries piled up and the Jets evaluated the bottom depths of their roster.

Camp Countdown: Your guide to every player on the 2026 Jets roster

Eric Watts could benefit from the Jets' defensive changes

The Jets' transition to a 3-4 defense may actually give Watts one final opportunity to carve out a role. Although he's spent most of his NFL career as a traditional 4-3 defensive end, Watts has experience moving inside.

During his time at UConn, he spent significant time at defensive tackle, giving him familiarity with playing along the interior of the defensive line. It's easy to see him projecting as a versatile chess piece in Karl Dunbar's defensive line rotation.

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At 6-foot-5 and 277 pounds, Watts has the size to project as a five-technique defensive end in Glenn's defense, a role that asks players to hold the edge against the run while occasionally sliding inside in different fronts.

That versatility is easily Watts' biggest selling point. If he can prove to Dunbar and this staff that he can fill multiple roles along the front while continuing to hold up against the run, he at least gives himself a chance to stick around.

What would make 2026 a success for Eric Watts

Realistically, Watts enters training camp fighting an uphill battle to earn a spot in the Jets' defensive line rotation. Making the initial Week 1 53-man roster would likely require injuries or an outstanding summer.

A return to the practice squad feels like the more realistic outcome, which would allow him to continue developing while providing experienced depth if the Jets need extra reinforcements during the season.

That's honestly not a bad place for an undrafted player entering his third NFL season. And if nothing else, you have to respect Watts' confidence.

Just a couple of weeks after the Jets traded Quinnen Williams last season, Watts wasted little time switching to Williams' old No. 95 jersey. You have to admire that level of gumption, no?

Whether that confidence translates into another year with the Jets remains to be seen, but if Watts is going to stick around in any capacity, he'll need to lean on his versatility this summer.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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