NY Jets looking for extra DT depth in veteran Sheldon Day

The NY Jets are still on the hunt for additional defensive tackle help this summer. On Sunday, the team reportedly brought in veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Day for a visit in the hopes of adding another experienced body to their roster ahead of the start of the regular season.

A fourth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2016 NFL Drat, Day crossed paths with Jets head coach Robert Saleh in Jacksonville and later in San Francisco. That prior experience with Saleh and this coaching staff likely landed him this visit.

At 28 years old, Day has six years of NFL experience under his belt, during which he's appeared in 67 games and recorded seven sacks. He's been a solid rotational player throughout his career, and it's no surprise that the Jets are exploring the possibility of adding him to their roster.

The Jets may be extremely deep at defensive end, but their interior depth is lacking at the moment. Aside from Quinnen Williams, the Jets have the likes of Solomon Thomas, Sheldon Rankins, Nathan Shepherd, Jonathan Marshall, and Tanzel Smart competing for reps at defensive tackle.

Day would give the Jets another experienced veteran to add to their defensive line in the form of a player with experience in a similar scheme.

Sheldon Day would be a worthy pickup for the NY Jets

Day has been a solid if unspectacular player throughout his six-year NFL career. The former Notre Dame standout has never been anything more than a rotational player, but when healthy, he's proven he can be a valuable part of a front-seven rotation.

Day's best years came in San Francisco when he played all 32 games from 2018 to 2019 under the tutelage of then defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. He recorded 26 tackles, three sacks, and five QB hits over that two-year period and was an important part of the 49ers' defensive line rotation.

That's likely the role Saleh and the Jets envision for him in New York. He's a rock-solid run stopper who has experience in a similar defensive system. That's a guy you want to bring in to see what he's got.

Day was released by the Cleveland Browns last week, but his release could have been seen as a favor, with his former organization affording him the opportunity to sign on with another team this summer.

Day flashed at times with the Browns last season, and although he only appeared in seven games, he played nearly 50 percent of his team's defensive snaps when active. His 64.7 Pro Football Focus grade would have ranked 37th among interior defensive linemen had he played enough snaps to qualify.

Ultimately, this would be your Ronald Blair signing of the summer. A Robert Saleh guy who can come in and compete for rotational reps on the defensive line. That's what the Jets are looking for in Sheldon Day.