Grading the Jets' defensive position groups a quarter of the way through the 2026 season

Throughout the New York Jets' dismal run over the last decade and a half, we've seen plenty of defensive failings. However, at certain points, we've seen the defense outpace the offense. Not enough to string many wins together, mind you, but typically speaking, this is the side of the ball where we've historically found the most bright spots.

That wasn't really the case last year. At 3-14, New York struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. However, coming into 2026, expectations were raised a bit. Head coach Aaron Glenn announced that he would be taking over play-calling duties, calling it his superpower.

On top of that, general manager Darren Moughey went out and made significant investments at every level of the defense, both via free agency and the draft. Now that we're a quarter of the way through the season, we're going to do the same thing that we did with the offense and grade each defensive position group to see where the wins and opportunities are.

There's been both good and bad within the New York Jets defensive units

Defensive line

While defensive tackles and edge rushers play different roles, the complementary nature of football makes the success or failure of one unit highly influential on the performance of the other, and vice versa. That's especially true for the Jets, so we're going to be grading them together.

There was a lot of investment along the D-line, with New York spending the second overall pick on David Bailey while also signing Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare to fortify the edge and bringing in David Onyemata to bolster the interior.

Bailey has flashed some as a pass rusher, but overall he's been inconsistent in this area. Surprisingly, he's been better against the run than the pass, grading out better as a run defender (75.1, per Pro Football Focus) than he does when rushing the quarterback (56.8).

Elsewhere, Ossai and Enagbare have been more or less invisible against the pass. That's not surprising, given that both are better suited as rotational pieces than starters. Will McDonald IV has proven to be a boom-or-bust player throughout his career, and this year he's mostly been a bust.

The lack of pass rush isn't all on the edge group. The interior doesn't help them out much, often failing to generate any pressure or even simply push the pocket to flush the QB into the waiting arms of an edge rusher.

That's not surprising, either. Onyemata, Harrison Phillips, and T'Vondre Sweat are all run stuffers, leaving only Jowon Briggs as an interior player with a reputation for having some pass-rushing chops. Unfortunately, with just six pressures through the first four weeks, Briggs has regressed, and the other three haven't contributed much beyond controlling the ground game.

Even in the run game, things haven't been great. The Jets have allowed 494 rushing yards, which is good for 25th in the league. The big guys up front have contributed the most to that lackluster number.

Grade: D-

Linebackers

Demario Davis is back for his third tour of duty in New York, and at 37 years old, it's kind of amazing that he's still able to play at this level. His performance has been a bit of a mixed bag, though.

Over the first two weeks of the season, he was solid in coverage, allowing just two catches on five targets for 16 yards. The past two weeks have been a different story, with the veteran being targeted nine times and yielding eight catches for 76 yards. He's also missed six tackles, giving him a 17.6% whiff rate.

Meanwhile, Jamien Sherwood has been a liability in coverage. An abysmal Week 3 performance against the Detroit Lions, where he allowed nine catches on 10 targets for 127 yards (81 of which came after the catch), has really dragged his numbers down.

The plus side is that he's been relatively sure-handed as a tackler and has made some plays in the run game. Still, his drop-off following the stellar 2024 campaign that earned him the big contract extension has been notable.

Grade: C-

Cornerbacks

Given the expectations when he joined the Jets, Brandon Stephens is making a case for being Mougey's best free-agent signing. After being regularly toasted in Baltimore, he was surprisingly good last season, and that has continued into 2026.

Stephens has allowed a 61.1% completion percentage, an 85.6 passer rating, and has yet to give up a touchdown. He's also been a solid tackler and has gotten a couple of stops in the run game.

Opposite him has been Azareye'h Thomas, and there has been some good and some bad with the second-year corner. He's been targeted frequently and allowed an 81% completion percentage, but he's done a good job keeping things in front of him, yielding just 7.2 yards per completion. Unfortunately, he's also allowed two touchdowns and is a bit spotty with his tackling.

In the nickel, Jarvis Brownlee has been a feisty presence when healthy. That's been the key word with him. Now dealing with a concussion, his status for Week 5 is up in the air. When he is on the field, he's not afraid to mix it up against the run, and has allowed just 56 yards through the air.

In total, this isn't prime Revis and Cromartie, but the corners have been pretty solid for the most part.

Grade: B

Safeties

One of the best signings, not just on the Jets but around the NFL, has been Dane Belton. The former New York Giant stepped into Minkah Fitzpatrick's role midway through the first game of the season and didn't skip a beat. He's done everything that's been asked of him, tallying nine run stops while also excelling in coverage.

Meanwhile, when healthy, Fitzpatrick has been as advertised, flying around the field and making plays against both the run and the pass. The five-time Pro Bowler also snagged an interception against the Bears, snapping New York's dreadful streak.

Andre Cisco has stepped in when needed and been solid as well. His true talent level is probably that of a low-end starter, so as the third safety, he is probably slightly overqualified. If you're looking for a disappointment, it would have to be Malachi Moore. The knock on the second-year man isn't his quality of play, per se, but rather that he's only managed eight snaps despite Fitzpatrick missing time.

Grade: A-

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow