Jets' best free agency linebacker upgrade may be hiding in plain sight

The New York Jets' linebacker room went from one of the best in the NFL to one of the worst in one offseason. C.J. Mosley retired, Jamien Sherwood regressed hard in his new leadership role, and it's almost a forgone conclusion that Quincy Williams will be playing somewhere else next season.

The Jets will assuredly make some upgrades at this position. On top of the fact that there have been rumors linking Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone to a reunion with his old coaches, New York could target names like hybrid defender Arvell Reese or teammate Sonny Styles in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While the Jets may be prioritizing Anzalone as a Williams replacement, the free agent inside linebacker class is fairly strong, and it could lead to the Jets eventually pursuing someone that may have a bit of a higher ceiling when compared to someone a bit longer in the tooth.

Pro Football Focus believes the Jets should make a run at Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush, who is fresh off a dominant regular season under Jim Schwartz. Bush isn't just an Anzalone fallback option; he may end up being part of a superior plan of attack.

PFF links Jets to Browns linebacker Devin Bush

Bush, who has three interceptions and two pick-sixes this season, graded out as one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. His 87.6 overall PFF grade and 80.4 coverage grade both ranked fourth in the league, and he was eighth in the league in run defense grade.

Bush coming in, even with Anzalone, could give the Jets three quality players between that duo and Sherwood (should he bounce back). New York can also commit to making Reese a full-time edge rusher instead of trying to make him a hybrid that is seldom seen in the NFL.

The question is if Bush is simply a product of Schwartz's scheme. Bush, a former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, struggled to find a long-term starting role before Cleveland, and there's a chance that his one elite season is a flash in the pan for the 5-11 Michigan alum.

The Jets are in talent acquisition mode due to how threadbare the roster is, and with some of the worst linebacker play in the league under their watch last season, this team may not be in a position to look at a player like Bush and refuse to bring him on.