NY Jets miss out on Larry Ogunjobi, still searching for DT depth

The NY Jets have been in the market for a few post-draft free-agent additions, and one such player they were interested in signing was defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi.

The Jets brought Ogunjobi in for a visit last month sparking speculation that the two sides could reach a deal. However, that never proved to be the case.

Instead, Ogunjobi visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday and shortly after signed on with the team. The veteran defensive tackle will be staying in the AFC North as the Jets continue their search for more interior depth.

The team has still been connected to the likes of Riley Reiff and Kwon Alexander, although neither fills the same hole that Ogunjobi would have. The search continues.

The NY Jets missed out on signing Larry Ogunjobi

Ogunjobi would have addressed a sizable need for the Jets at defensive tackle. A former third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, the New Jersey native played four seasons in Cleveland before agreeing to join the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

In 16 games with the Bengals, Ogunjobi recorded a career-high 7.0 sacks, putting together the most productive season of his NFL career. He nearly parlayed that into a massive $40.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears this offseason too before a failed medical made the deal fall through.

Nonetheless, there's no denying that Ogunjobi would have been a very nice June addition to the Jets' roster. The team's defensive tackle depth is lacking at the moment with the likes of Nathan Shepherd and Jonathan Marshall backing up Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins.

The Jets could use some additional bodies up front, specifically players who excel at defending the run. Ogunjobi didn't exactly fit that profile as his largest contributions in the NFL have come as an interior rusher.

If the Jets still want to address that area, there are a few possible targets out there. Veterans like Ndamukong Suh, Eddie Goldman, Brandon Williams, Linval Joseph, and Tyeler Davison remain free agents, although it's unclear how they would fit into the Jets' defensive scheme.

The Jets may have missed out on Larry Ogunjobi, but I'd expect the team to make at least one notable post-draft signing in the coming weeks. It might not come in the form of a defensive tackle, however.