NFL New York Jets

Who Should Stay and Who Should Go For New York Jets: Defensive Line

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By @GregSulik

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If there is anything the New York Jets have going for them, it is their outstanding defensive line. Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Damon Harrison form one of the best fronts in the NFL, and they turned in another very impressive season in 2014. All three players are 26 or younger, and they should be the foundation of the team going forward. However, the Jets have to make sure that they agree to long term contracts before they lose any of their young stars.

We’ll start with Wilkerson, who is the best player on the team. He dealt with some injuries this season, but still produced 55 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five pass deflections, and one forced fumble in 13 games. The decline in his sack total was a bit disappointing, but he faced many double teams. Wilkerson is also an elite run defender, and he is arguably the best 3-4 defensive end in football this side of J.J. Watt.

Wilkerson is under contract through next season, but it is absolutely essential that the Jets sign him to a long term extension. They cannot afford to repeat the mistakes they made with Darrelle Revis, and re-signing Wilkerson will be priority No. 1 for the new GM. The Jets should be able to get a deal done, probably around $10-12 million annually, which would rank him among the highest paid defensive ends in football.

Richardson was one of the breakout stars of the NFL season, building on his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign from a year ago establishing himself as one of the elite defensive tackles in football. Richardson recorded 66 tackles, 8.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, showing the all around game the Jets wanted. Richardson is only going to get better, and since he is on his rookie contract for two more seasons, the Jets are happy to sit back and watch him continue to develop.

The one wild card on the defensive line this offseason is Harrison, who is an excellent run stuffer and 3-4 nose tackle. Harrison is a restricted free agent, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jets put a first round tender on him. Harrison’s run stopping ability can translate to whatever scheme the new coach installs, so look for the Jets to make sure that they get him re-signed to a long term contract and keep him at the heart of their defense.

The backups present a much less stable situation. Kenrick Ellis is a solid run stopper, but he is an unrestricted free agent and it seems unlikely that the Jets will keep him. Ellis has never lived up to his third round draft status, and since the Jets have a ready made replacement in T.J. Barnes they will likely let Ellis walk.

At end, Leger Douzable is an unrestricted free agent and will be in limbo until there is a new coach. He is a quality backup in a 3-4 scheme, but if the Jets convert to 4-3 they will likely let him go. Douzable is solid player, but certainly not irreplaceable, so it will all come down to how the new coach sees his fit in the new defense.

Although there will be some tinkering with the reserves, the key parts of the Jets’ defensive line should remain the same next season. Re-signing Wilkerson and Harrison is a major priority, but there is no reason those deals can’t get done. Very few teams can match the quality the Jets have at this position, and they need to make sure they keep their defensive line intact as the foundation of their team.

Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google

Previously: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Line

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