Jets blew a perfect opportunity to sign veteran Micheal Clemons replacement

The New York Jets are in a very difficult spot as it pertains to fourth-year defensive end Micheal Clemons. While he is not a very good player and has a penchant for committing ill-advised penalties, the Jets don't have the means to replace him.

Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson are quality starters, but they are polar opposites of one another. The banged-up Johnson is a great run defender who will never be a double-digit sack artist, while McDonald is one of the best young pass rushers in the league and arguably the single-worst run defender. The backups are so bad that Clemons is still the best of the bunch.

One of the few veterans out there who could have made an impact in the Jets' defense is Preston Smith, who has over 70 sacks in his 10-year career. Unfortunately, Darren Mougey was beaten to the punch.

Smith agreed to a contract with the Washington Commanders nearly a decade after leaving in free agency. Smith would have instantly been the third-best defensive end on the roster and would have been an invaluable tool for a Jets team that is trying anything and everything to wean itself off their Clemons addiction.

Jets could have signed Preston Smith to replace Micheal Clemons

Smith may have only recorded 4.5 sacks in a 2024 season that was split between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, but he had recorded at least eight sacks in four of the past five seasons. Even in his early 30s, Smith can be a valuable role player.

Braiden McGregor has consistently blown opportunity after opportunity when he could take some bites out of Clemons' playing time. Tyler Baron looked like the worst of the Jets' defensive ends in the preseason to the point where it was a surprise he made the 53-man roster. Eric Watts is not the magic solution fans may hope for.

Smith is not what he once was, and Washington certainly gives him a better chance of competing for a championship, but the Jets may have been able to convince him to come to New York if he was enticed with the promise of a nice contract and a role of some prominence in the defense.

The Jets can likely address the lack of pass rush depth in the offseason, but they might need to take their lumps for the remainder of the season. Unless McDonald and Johnson turn into Hall of Fame players, the pass rush will remain an issue without depth like Smith.

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