7 defensive tackles the NY Jets could sign after losing Sheldon Rankins

The NY Jets are pretty desperate for defensive tackle help after losing both Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd in free agency. Shepherd's loss isn't too significant, but the departure of Rankins leaves a pretty sizable hole in the middle of the Jets' defense.

At the moment, the only defensive tackles currently under contract with the team are Quinnen Williams, the newly re-signed Solomon Thomas, Tanzel Smart, and waiver-wire pickup Isaiah Mack.

The Jets are going to make an addition at the defensive tackle position, and that position very well might come in free agency. They need a replacement for Rankins, and there are still a few notable names left on the open market.

Let's take a look at seven veteran defensive tackles the Jets can sign to replace Rankins.

7. The NY Jets could sign Linval Joseph

The Jets showed interest in signing Linval Joseph last season, even bringing him in for a visit before he eventually signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 34-year-old is a free agent once again, and the Jets could make him a target.

Joseph isn't the same multi-time Pro Bowler he was during his prime years with the Minnesota Vikings, but he's still a capable contributor who played an important role in Philadelphia's defense last season.

Joseph appeared in eight games for the Eagles after signing in November, tallying 20 tackles and a half-sack. He didn't light up the stat sheet, but given that he joined the team midseason and immediately stepped into a starting role, the Eagles clearly thought highly of him.

Joseph makes sense for the Jets if they're looking to add a stop-gap veteran to pair with a potential Day 2 or 3 draft pick. He's not a long-term solution, but Joseph might still have some good football left in him.

6. The NY Jets could sign Akiem Hicks

Another aging veteran who can occupy a similar role to Joseph is longtime Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. Hicks spent the 2022 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting 11 games while battling a foot injury.

Much like Joseph, the 2022 version of Hicks was a far cry from his former Pro Bowl self. He finished with 22 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and four QB hits in just under two-thirds of a full season.

Hicks was more effective as a run defender as his 65.6 Pro Football Focus run-defense grade ranked 38th out of 143 qualified interior defensive linemen. That's the role he would likely play with the Jets.

The days of Hicks being a dominant three-down lineman are probably over, but he could still provide value as an early-down run-stopper. The Jets could use someone like that on their roster.

5. The NY Jets could sign Greg Gaines

Joseph and Hicks are both short-term, stop-gap options. If the Jets would prefer a younger alternative, someone like Greg Gaines could make some sense.

A fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 2019 NFL Draft, Gaines played a part-time role in his first two NFL seasons before taking over as a starter in 2021. His 69.8 PFF grade ranked 27th out of 108 qualifiers that year, and he finished with a career-high 4.5 sacks.

Gaines saw his production and effectiveness decrease this past season, although a large part of that was due to the fact that he played through a biceps tear he suffered in training camp. Gaines wasn't healthy in 2022 and it showed.

At 6-foot-1, 312 pounds, Gaines is an athletic nose tackle who offers pass-rush upside (8.5 sacks over the last two seasons) to go along with a strong run-stopping pedigree. He would be a wise buy-low candidate coming off a down year.

4. The NY Jets could sign Poona Ford

Speaking of young nose tackles, Poona Ford is another younger alternative the Jets could consider. Ford's journey from undersized, undrafted defensive line prospect to the Seattle Seahawks' starting nose tackle has been fun to watch.

Ford was a dominant player at Texas but ultimately went undrafted due to teams' concerns about his size. At just 5-foot-11, Ford didn't have the physical pedigree to match up with others at his position.

Despite this, Ford quickly carved out a role for himself in Seattle, and he's now started 63 games over the last four seasons. In 2020 and 2021, Ford ranked inside the top 20 interior defensive linemen in football, per PFF.

At just 27 years old and coming off his most productive season as a pass rusher, Ford is an intriguing target who could plug a significant hole in the middle of the Jets' defense.

3. The NY Jets could sign A'Shawn Robinson

Greg Gaines isn't the only Rams defensive tackle left on the open market. A'Shawn Robinson hit free agency this offseason after spending the last two seasons in Los Angeles.

Robinson is a former second-round pick who never really found a permanent role in Detroit, but he came into his own a little bit with the Rams. The Alabama product has graded out as one of the betters run-defenders in football in each of the last two seasons.

At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, Robinson is a true space-eater in the middle of the defensive line. Given how much the Jets struggled against the run at times last season, they could absolutely use someone like that.

Robinson has missed time due to injury in two of the last three seasons, but if the Jets are comfortable with his medicals, he remains one of the best options still unsigned.

2. The NY Jets could sign Matt Ioannidis

How about a little homecoming? Born in Ringoes, New Jersey, Matt Ioannidis played his college ball at Temple and could play for his "hometown team" of sorts if he signs with the Jets this offseason.

Ioannidis has long been one of the more unheralded defensive tackles in the NFL. He's never finished with a PFF grade south of 65.0 in his five years as a starter and has especially graded out well as a pass rusher.

He's very much in the mold of someone like Rankins, in the sense that he's more effective as an interior disruptor and pass rusher. Ioannidis isn't a liability as a run defender, but his strong suit is definitely getting after the passer.

If the Jets are looking for a veteran who shares a similar skill set to Rankins, Ioannidis might be their top choice. Perhaps the North Jersey connection could be a factor as well.

1. The NY Jets could sign Calais Campbell

The most high-profile name remaining on the market is now-former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell. Campbell was released by the Ravens earlier this month in a cost-cutting move, but don't get it twisted: the 15-year veteran is still playing at a very high level.

Campbell finished the 2022 season with 5.5 sacks and 14 QB hits, the most he's totaled in a single season since his 2019 Pro Bowl campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 36-year-old has been ranked in the top 27 interior defensive linemen by PFF in every season since 2011, including this past season when his 76.9 grade was good for 15th in the NFL.

Campbell has contemplated retirement in the past, but given that he's one sack shy of 100 career sacks and has never won a Super Bowl, perhaps he'll consider running it back for one more season.

If Campbell is willing to consider a Jets offer, they should be all over his market.