Advanced numbers and film behind still-available players who would fill crucial holes for the New York Jets.
Vinny Curry, EDGE
What Curry brings to the table: Efficient pass-rushing
Curry was one of the league’s most efficient rushers off the edge in 2019, yet mysteriously remains on the market with training camp on the horizon.
Over 16 regular season games and one playoff game with Philadelphia this past season, Curry racked up a total of 44 pressures over 260 pass-rush snaps (playoffs included). That’s a pressure rate of 16.9% – sixth-best out of 101 qualified edge defenders (95th percentile).
The six-foot-three, 279-pounder primarily lined up as a 4-3 defensive end for the Eagles. Curry shows off his power-rushing ability on this play as he plows over the right tackle (Ty Nsekhe) to get a crushing hit on Josh Allen and force a two-yard dump-off.
Curry annihilates the tight end with a swipe-rip move to get a quick hit on Russell Wilson that causes him to miss an open D.K. Metcalf.
Curry is strong enough to handle some interior reps despite his sub-280 pound frame. He lines up at the 2-technique on this play, and after initially being sealed off, is able to work his way to the play-side and disengage to make an athletic diving stop.
What Curry doesn’t bring to the table: Every-down capability
Curry has been a situational rusher throughout the majority of his career, and that is certainly not changing as he heads into his age-32 season.
In 2019, Curry played only 24.4 snaps per game, participating in 39.4% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps on average. His career average is 27.5 snaps per game.
Curry’s role has always been to simply pin his ears back and go get the quarterback. He has rushed on 69.9% of his career snaps, with only 29.2% of his snaps coming against the run and 0.9% of his snaps in coverage.
So, you can get some fantastic pass-rushing from Curry, but only in a small sample, and he is not the type of player who can be trusted to handle an every-down role.
That works just fine for the Jets, who could use any amount of juice that they can get as they continue to search for a long-term answer at EDGE.
Curry would be a great fit in the role that Henry Anderson played last year. Anderson was largely playing the 5-technique defensive end position, with a lot of edge-rushing responsibility placed on his shoulders. That is not his forte. Give Curry those snaps on passing downs, and the productivity from that position should fly upwards.
Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
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Not a big fan of the three. Unrealistic hope that the Clowney interest stimulates Jacksonville to move Yannick. Great fit for the Jets. A couple of stumbling blocks. Pay the one year franchise, plus Comp. Seattle’s of third of 21 should do it. Relying on GW to sell a long term deal
Yannick would definitely bring pass-rush juice that Clowney does not.
The only hope I Have is that JD runs a very tight ship. Clueless on the Seattle deal until it happened. In reference to Clowney & Ryan. Bargain basement pricing, Clowney at 12 million, Logan also at 12 but for two years. Concern that too many of the secondary needs to be resigned in 2021