Jets sleeper at DT already one of the biggest disappointments of camp

When the New York Jets brought in a collection of cheaper veterans to serve as one-year stopgaps next to All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, former Kansas City Chiefs star Derrick Nnadi stood out as the player with the best chance of earning a starting role.

While Nnadi is coming to town with three shiny Super Bowl rings on his fingers, the Mecole Hardman debacle shows that success alongside Patrick Mahomes may not always translate to the field. Nnadi may be headed towards a similar fate if he does not improve his training camp performance.

ESPN's Rich Cimini coughed up a rough outline of what he thinks the 53-man roster will look like. Nnadi was not only removed from his starting role, but he was cut from the roster altogether. Cimini likely wouldn't plant his flag with a take like this unless Nnadi was failing to impress in camp.

Between this observation and the fact that fellow veteran addition Byron Cowart has been one of the biggest standouts at Jets training camp, Nnadi may not be putting on the best first impression on a team that is looking for him to seize ownership of that second DT role.

Jets DT Derrick Nnadi may not end up as starter in 2025

Nnadi struggled mightily during his last year as a starter with the Chiefs, even in his alleged specialty of defending the run. He lost his starting job to Tershawn Wharton, who just received a big free agent contract from the Carolina Panthers, during the 2024 season. Pro Football Focus is not a fan of him.

Nnadi is on this team exclusively to defend the run next to Williams, which is what everyone except the Washington Commanders saw that Javon Kinlaw was not capable of. If he is incapable of plugging up the middle, his lack of pass-rush upside could prevent him from making this roster.

Without Nnadi, Cowart seems to be the most likely candidate to start next to Williams. Cowart has familiarity with defensive line coach Eric Washington, who served as his defensive coordinator in Chicago. 2024 UDFA Leonard Taylor will need to improve his run defense, and veteran Jay Tufele doesn't have a very high ceiling.

Nnadi could either be a space-eater next to Williams or someone who gets dispatched without a second thought. The range of outcomes for Nnadi is incredibly wide, which means that he needs to solidify himself in training camp and the preseason.

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