A quarter of the way into the 2026 season, the Jets’ defense looks like a mixed bag: one unit that hasn’t found its pass rush, another that’s been uneven in the middle, and a secondary that has mostly held up. For a team that spent heavily on this side of the ball, the results so far have been all over the place.
The biggest concern sits up front. New York used the second overall pick on David Bailey and added Joseph Ossai, Kingsley Enagbare, and David Onyemata, but the payoff has been limited.
Bailey has shown some juice as a rusher, yet his production has been uneven. The surprising part is that he’s been better against the run, posting a 75.1 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus compared with a 56.8 grade as a pass rusher.
The other edge options haven’t moved the needle much either. Ossai and Enagbare have been largely quiet when the quarterback drops back, which fits the idea that they’re better as rotational players than full-time starters. Will McDonald IV has remained the same volatile player he’s been throughout his career, only this season he’s mostly landed on the wrong side of that boom-or-bust profile.
The interior hasn’t picked up the slack. Onyemata, Harrison Phillips, and T’Vondre Sweat are more run-stopping types, and that has shown up in the pass rush.
Jowon Briggs is the one interior player with some reputation for getting after the quarterback, but he has only six pressures through the first four weeks and has slipped from there. The run defense hasn’t been much better, either.
The Jets have given up 494 rushing yards, which ranks 25th in the league, and the defensive front has played a major part in that number.
Grade: D-
At linebacker, Demario Davis is back for his third stint in New York, and at 37 he’s still hanging in there at a high level. His early season has been uneven.
In the first two weeks, he was steady in coverage, allowing two catches on five targets for 16 yards. Over the last two games, though, he’s been targeted nine times, given up eight receptions for 76 yards, and missed six tackles, a 17.6% whiff rate.
Jamien Sherwood has had a rougher time in coverage. His Week 3 outing against the Detroit Lions stands out for all the wrong reasons, as he allowed nine catches on 10 targets for 127 yards, including 81 yards after the catch. He has been more reliable as a tackler and has helped some against the run, but his drop-off from the strong 2024 season that led to his extension has been clear.
Grade: C-
The cornerback group has been steadier. Brandon Stephens, who arrived with plenty of expectations, is making a strong case as Darren Moughey’s best free-agent addition.
After getting picked on regularly in Baltimore, he was better last season and has carried that into 2026. He has allowed a 61.1% completion rate, an 85.6 passer rating, and no touchdowns, while also holding up as a tackler and contributing a couple of run stops.
On the other side, Azareye’h Thomas has shown both promise and rough edges in his second season. He’s been targeted often and has allowed an 81% completion rate, but most of the throws have stayed short, with just 7.2 yards per completion. The downside is that he has given up two touchdowns and has been inconsistent as a tackler.
Jarvis Brownlee has brought some edge in the slot when healthy, but health has been the issue. He’s now dealing with a concussion, and his status for Week 5 is uncertain. When he’s on the field, he’s been active against the run and has allowed only 56 receiving yards.
It’s not a Revis-and-Cromartie type of group, but the corners have been solid overall.
The safety group has been the brightest part of the defense. Dane Belton has been one of the best additions anywhere in the league, not just in New York. The former Giant took over Minkah Fitzpatrick’s role midway through the first game and handled it without a hitch, piling up nine run stops while also standing out in coverage.
Fitzpatrick, when healthy, has looked exactly like the player the Jets expected. He’s been flying around, making plays against the run and the pass, and he picked off the Bears to end New York’s ugly streak. Andre Cisco has filled in when needed and done his job well enough that, as a third safety, he’s probably a little better than the role calls for.
The one letdown in the group has been Malachi Moore. The issue isn’t really his play so much as his usage. Even with Fitzpatrick missing time, the second-year safety has played only eight snaps.
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