Jowon Briggs off to underwhelming start after breakout 2025 season

One of the moves that was lauded the loudest last year was the New York Jets' decision to trade for defensive lineman Jowon Briggs. Briggs, a 2024 seventh-round pick, was buried on the depth chart for the Cleveland Browns.

It was a low-cost swing, as the Jets sent a 2026 sixth-round pick for Briggs and a 2026 seventh-rounder. The swing paid off in 2025.

Playing 52% of snaps, Briggs finished the season with four sacks, 38 pressures, a 7.0 PRP, and a 15.3 WIN%. His 15.3 wins percentage, was good enough for fourth in the NFL among qualified interior defensive linemen.

Something has changed this year, as Briggs is not nearly as productive as he was during the 2025 season.

What's going on with Jowon Briggs?

Through six games, Briggs has two sacks. One came against Green Bay, and the other came in the Jets' 17-12 win over the Cleveland Browns. While he's on pace for a higher sack total, the consistency week-to-week is not the same.

Looking into some of the deeper numbers, Briggs' 5.6 PRP ranks him 41st in the NFL, and his 6.5 WIN% puts him 77th out of 129 qualifiers. His playing time is also fairly comparable to what he was getting last season. He's playing 50% of defensive snaps, just a two percent difference from where he was a year ago.

Briggs is pacing out for just 23 pressures on the season, which would be a significant drop-off from where he was a year ago. There have only been two games this year where he has had two or more pressures; the other four were single-pressure games for Briggs.

The 2026 Jets are struggling to get to the quarterback without blitzing. New York blitzes 40.1 percent of the time, which is the fourth most in the NFL. When they aren't sending extra rushers, they struggle to get home with just four.

Briggs' production, or lack thereof, is a big cause. He's not the only problem. Guys like Will McDonald, T'Vondre Sweat, and Harrison Phillips are players who receive a high number of snaps who aren't producing up to their standard as pass rushers.

It can't all fall on the No. 2 overall pick, David Bailey. Through six games, Bailey has done a good job of getting pressure and converting sacks. Yes, there are inconsistencies in his game, like any other rookie, but he can't be looked at as a negative for this defensive line.

Unfortunately, guys like Briggs need to begin playing up to the standard for themselves. Otherwise, the Jets will continue to struggle to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks when they don't decide to blitz.

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