Unsung NY Jets defensive hero hiding in plain sight after NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone for the New York Jets. GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn selected seven players over the three days.

New York added to multiple positions on both sides of the football with three offensive players drafted and four defensive players drafted. However, one position that the Jets didn't add to was defensive tackle, which was a clear need heading into the draft.

Entering the offseason, getting help next to Quinnen Williams in the interior of the defensive line was an obvious priority. Even after low-cost signings in free agency of Derrick Nnadi, Byron Cowart, and Jay Tufele, defensive tackle remained a need for the Jets entering a draft that featured a very deep defensive tackle class.

Mougey and Glenn's lack of significant moves at the position in both free agency and the draft could lead to a 2024 UDFA needing to take a big step in 2025.

Leonard Taylor could have a breakout season for the NY Jets in 2025

After going undrafted out of Miami, Leonard Taylor signed on with the Jets shortly after the 2024 NFL Draft. The once-projected first-round pick out of college turned UDFA, put together a promising rookie season for the Jets.

In 14 games played as a rookie, Taylor tallied 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, and nine pressures. The 22-year-old also tallied a 62.7 Pro Football Focus grade and posted a 69.9 pass rush grade, both of which ranked above average among defensive linemen last season.

Taylor finished the season playing a total of 261 defensive snaps, which was 22.74% of the team's snaps on defense. The rookie flashed as a pass rusher, and although he could improve as a run defender, Taylor added ten run stops to his season resume.

With the way the Jets have approached the defensive tackle position this offseason, the door is open for Leonard Taylor to play a larger role for Gang Green this season. The Jets may see something in Taylor to the point where they didn't feel the need to add much at the position with the Miami product already on the roster.

ESPN's Rich Cimini even noted the possibility of Leonard Taylor's role increasing on his Flight Deck podcast, describing this as a "great opportunity" for Taylor, who could "win a starting job" in 2025.

It'll be up to Aaron Glenn and defensive line coach Eric Washington to develop the current defensive line and figure out what pieces fit and don't fit. Look for Taylor to become a more well-rounded defensive tackle in both rushing the QB and stopping the run, which could lead to a breakout in 2025.