Jets exploring long-awaited fix for team’s most glaring roster hole

The New York Jets might have the worst defensive end depth in the entire NFL. The team's pass-rush has struggled mightily with Jermaine Johnson sidelined, due in large part to the fact that three of their four active edge rushers likely wouldn't be on the majority of the 53-man rosters around the league.

The Jets' inability to properly address their defensive end depth this offseason has been a major hindrance to the performance of the defense through four weeks. But at long last, it appears the Jets are finally looking to bolster their depth chart.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday that former San Francisco 49ers second-round pick Drake Jackson is set to visit with the Jets — as well as the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens — within the coming days.

Jackson hasn't appeared in an NFL game since November of 2023 after suffering a torn patellar tendon that wiped out his entire 2024 season. Now medically cleared, Jackson is looking to catch on with his second NFL team. That team could be the Jets.

Drake Jackson would give the Jets much-needed DE depth

A former four-star recruit, Jackson started all three years at USC, twice earning second-team All-Pac 12 honors, although he was never quite able to live up to the potential he showed in flashes.

Jackson finished his college career with just 12.5 sacks in 28 games, but his impressive athletic profile was enough to get him drafted 61st overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by the 49ers.

At 6-foot-4, 273 pounds, Jackson showed flashes in limited playing time with the 49ers. He recorded three sacks, 16 pressures, and eight run stops in his rookie year, finishing with a respectable 64.1 Pro Football Focus grade.

He returned in 2023 and looked well on his way to a breakout campaign, notching three sacks in San Francisco's season-opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, he only played in a handful more games before his devastating knee injury.

Jackson would be a flier at this stage. He's still only just 24 years old and has shown flashes of his pass-rush upside in the past, but he hasn't appeared in an NFL game in close to two years.

Still, given the current state of the Jets' defensive room, literally any capable bodies would be an improvement. Braiden McGregor is currently PFF's lowest-graded edge rusher among all 118 qualifiers to play at least 60 defensive snaps in 2025.

Tyler Baron would also rank among the league’s worst edge defenders if he had played enough snaps to qualify. Meanwhile, Micheal Clemons is technically the Jets’ top backup defensive end, but you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a handful of NFL teams that would even keep him on their roster.

The Jets should keep cycling through defensive ends until one or two hopefully stick. At this point, almost anyone they sign off the street would be an upgrade over the group they have now — it’s that bad.

It’s encouraging to see the Jets at least exploring an upgrade at what might be their biggest roster weakness. Adding Drake Jackson would be a welcome step in the right direction

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