Signing Kwon Alexander would give the NY Jets much-needed LB depth

The NY Jets are still active in the free-agent market even as we approach the 2022 NFL Draft. And one player they seemingly have their eye on is former Pro Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that the Jets were set to host Alexander on a visit on Tuesday, perhaps setting up a potential reunion between the veteran linebacker and his former defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh.

Alexander spent parts of 2019 and 2020 with the San Francisco 49ers where he played under Saleh. He's spent the better part of the last two years with the New Orleans Saints.

A former Pro Bowler, Alexander's career has been marred by injury after injury, but when healthy, he's proved to be an above-average starter. More importantly, he's a perfect fit for the Jets' defense.

Kwon Alexander would be an excellent addition for the NY Jets

A fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Alexander played the first four seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he quickly emerged as one of the better linebackers in football.

After posting a whopping 145 tackles in 2016, Alexander was named to his first and only Pro Bowl in 2017 as one of the centerpieces of Tampa Bay's defense.

Unfortunately, injuries began to pile up, and after a torn ACL suffered in 2018, the Buccaneers opted to let him walk in free agency. The injuries didn't stop the 49ers from signing him to a hefty four-year, $54 million contract that offseason, however.

Alexander found some success in San Francisco, but once again, injuries continued to curb his momentum. A torn pectoral muscle limited him to eight games in 2019 and, upon being traded to the Saints the following year, he would suffer a torn Achilles.

The former LSU star returned in 2021 but was limited to 12 games as a result of an elbow injury. In seven NFL seasons, Alexander has played more than 12 games just once, that coming way back in 2016.

Trusting Alexander to stay healthy for 12+ games — let alone all 17 games — seems foolish at this stage, but everything else makes him an excellent fit for the Jets' defense.

He's an athletic, rangy linebacker who thrives in coverage and has experience playing under Robert Saleh. This would essentially be a better version of the Jarrad Davis signing — only the risk this time is health, not talent.

The Jets need linebacker depth and pairing Kwon Alexander with C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams would certainly bolster the team's defensive depth chart.

This would be a worthwhile signing, and it wouldn't be a surprise if it gets done rather quickly.