One of the quieter bright spots in the Jets’ rough 2025 season was defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, and the setup around him is about to look a lot different.
Briggs came over from the Cleveland Browns in what looked like a throw-in deal at the time, but he ended up giving New York real value as a rotational piece in Aaron Glenn’s defense. He finished with 38 tackles and four sacks, and Pro Football Focus credited him with 38 quarterback pressures. On a defense that didn’t have many true impact players, Briggs still found ways to make noise.
Now the Jets have spent the offseason reshaping that side of the ball, and that could matter for him. New starters T’Vondre Sweat and Minkah Fitzpatrick arrived via trade, while Darren Mougey added Joseph Ossai, David Onyemata, Kingsley Enagbare, Demario Davis, and Nahshon Wright in free agency. Rookies David Bailey and D’Angelo Ponds are also expected to contribute right away.
That kind of overhaul should help the entire front. The Jets figure to get after the quarterback more effectively, and tighter coverage behind them should give the defensive line a little more time to work. That’s the kind of environment that can turn a solid interior player into an even bigger problem for offenses.
Briggs already showed short-area quickness and power in 2025. With more quality around him in 2026, the Jets should be in a better position to let those traits play up.
He looks set up for another productive season.
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Geno Smith Just Entered A Defining Chapter Raiders Fans Know Well
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Now the questions are landing in New York, where the Jets are betting on a veteran who has seen plenty and still has something to prove. Smiths 2025 season in Las Vegas was a rough one, and 2026 shapes up as a defining chance to reset the conversation. For the Jets, it is a low-risk move with a potentially important payoff, because if Smith steadies the position, he could change the direction of their quarterback picture in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]