The New York Jets have re-signed two more defenders in EDGE Jordan Jenkins and inside linebacker James Burgess.
The New York Jets are now rounding out the defense. On Monday, the team has reportedly come to terms with both Jordan Jenkins and James Burgess, bringing both back for the 2020 season.
Per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Joe Douglas spearheaded a one-year agreement with the team’s sack leader a season ago. The details as per the total payout for the one year are still being worked out.
Source: Jets are closing in on a deal with OLB Jordan Jenkins.
A big move for NYJ to bring back their sack leader from last year. https://t.co/1BMmaexhnl
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) March 23, 2020
As far as Burgess is concerned, Drew Rosenhaus confirms his one-year deal.
Jets bring back ILB James Burgess on a 1-year deal, per @RosenhausSports
Another player who benefitted having Gregg Williams around.
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) March 23, 2020
Jenkins, 25, has morphed into one of the locker room leaders in Florham Park. In 2019, he took home the media’s admiration by being named the Eskenazi Award recipient. The award is given to the Jets player or person who represents the most media-friendly individual that season. Jenkins has always been a great individual off the field.
Jets LB Jordan Jenkins is the winner of the annual Eskenazi Award, the most media-friendly player. It's named after former NY Times Jets beat writer Jerry Eskenazi. The winner is selected by members of the media who cover the… https://t.co/TSe0FytNQG pic.twitter.com/n4dtaUZdPj
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) December 27, 2019
As far as on the field is concerned, his eight sacks in 14 games led Gregg Williams’s defense (1.5 more than Jamal Adams‘s 6.5). Without any edge presence at the moment, bringing Jenkins back could be deemed a big win.
He’s not the prototypical athletic edge every NFL defense is seeking, but Jenkins is workmanlike and solid against the run.
Burgess, 26, is a three-year NFL vet who Williams is extremely comfortable with. He coached him in Cleveland in 2017 and 2018 and brought him over to New Jersey prior to last year. Much like Jenkins, Burgess brings an air of professionalism to the team. Unlike Jenkins, Burgess is a strict depth play at the second-level linebacker position.
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