The defensive tackle position is a desperate need for the New York Jets. Outside of Quinnen Williams, their only other players under contract at the position are Leonard Taylor and Phidarian Mathis.
Most likely, the Jets need to acquire at least three rosterable players at this position. In particular, they must find a starting 1-technique to play opposite their star 3-technique, Williams. This player needs to primarily be a strong run-stuffer who can also be at least competent against the pass.
Enter two intriguing veteran free agents.
D.J. Jones, Broncos
Jones, 30, previously played under former Jets head coach Robert Saleh in San Francisco. He stood out as an excellent target for the Jets in the 2022 free agent cycle, but he wound up in Denver on a three-year, $30 million deal. Current Jets general manager Darren Mougey was the Broncos’ assistant general manager when they signed Jones.
Jones brings a low center of gravity to the position at six feet and 305 pounds. He is a sturdy presence who can hold the point of attack in the run game. Over the past three seasons, Jones ranked 20th among defensive tackles with 64 run-game tackles that held the runner short of the sticks and to a gain of under three yards.
For someone whose specialty is the run game, Jones is not a slouch as a pass rusher. Over his three years in Denver, Jones recorded 65 total pressures on 934 pass-rush snaps (7.0% pressure rate), totaling five sacks. That is above the going rate for run-centric defensive tackles; many of them average under 10 total pressures per season.
Jones is 30 years old and saw his production decline a bit from the career-best 2021 season that landed him his $10 million salary at age 27. Most likely, he can be had for a price in the mid-to-high seven figures.
B.J. Hill, Bengals
B.J. Hill is in the same tier of the position as Jones. Identically, he is entering his age-30 season and is coming off a three-year, $30 million deal signed in 2022.
Across his three years in Cincinnati, Hill recorded 68 run-game tackles that held the runner short of the sticks and to a gain of under three yards, good enough for 16th among defensive tackles over that span. In addition to the on-ball playmaking, he displays the ability to eat blockers and clear space for his linebackers, a skill the Jets have lacked on the interior outside of Williams since Foley Fatukasi was in town.
Watch Hill against the C/RG on these two plays, eating a double team to create traffic and tee up a tackle for his teammates.
From an efficiency perspective, Hill’s pass rushing ability is similar to Jones’, as he recorded a 7.5% pressure rate over the past three seasons compared to Jones’ 7.0%. This past season, they were at 7.4% and 6.7%, respectively. However, Hill offers a better penchant for sacks and QB hits. Hill had 10.5 sacks and 41 QB hits, versus Jones’ 5.0 and 11.
Hill is also counted on to play a much larger role. His average snap percentage was in the 70s in each of the past three seasons. Jones’ snap percentages ranged from 40% in 2024 to 55% in 2022.
Hill offers a larger frame than Jones, standing at 6-foot-3 and 311 pounds. Stil, Hill is quick for his size, recording an 89th-percentile three-cone time and 74th-percentile forty time back in 2018. That was a while ago, but Hill maintains much of that athleticism.
Hill will likely be pricier than Jones, considering his ability to handle a larger role and his better knack for big plays against the pass. It is possible he reaches the eight-figure range again.
However, the players seemed to be similarly productive from an efficiency standpoint over the past three years. Hill had a slight edge in terms of pressure rate while Jones is more efficient at making run stuffs; Jones had 64 run stuffs on 648 run-defense snaps (9.9% rate) while Hill had 68 run stuffs on 846 run-defense snaps (8.0%).
If the Jets prefer run defense and want to stay cheaper at this position, Jones is the way to go. If they are willing to pay a bit more money for someone who can play more snaps and make more plays in the passing game (without sacrificing much in the run game), Hill is the way to go. Either way, both are great fits for the Jets to place alongside Quinnen Williams.