New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn understood that one of the fundamental starting points to building the roster was to invest in some of the young talent already available to him.
The first signing this offseason proved that point well.
When the Jets agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with linebacker Jamien Sherwood, the deal was seen as the end of the road for former captain C.J. Mosley.
Sherwood took over the full-time linebacker role from the Pro Bowler and never looked back in 2024. Now, Glenn is hoping for improved play from the Auburn product to turn the defense back into one of the elite units in the game again.
Jets Explain Reason for Jamien Sherwood Extension
Since being drafted in the fifth-round of the 2021 Draft by the previous regime, Sherwood has grown from a player learning a new position (he played safety in college), to one of the better young linebackers in the game.
In 2024, Sherwood recorded 158 tackles in 16 starts to go along with two sacks and three passes defended. Pro Football Focus graded his season at an excellent 73.8 – 10th-best out of 64 linebackers.
Glenn is expecting even more from the 25-year-old, and his experience last season is a big reason why.
“He’s a really good communicator,” Glenn said at league meetings Monday morning. “You watch him on tape and the way he talks and reacts to all the players around him, and the way the players react to him, lets you know he’s a true QB of the defense.
“We want to make sure we have that on defense, so getting him was critical for us to continue to build this defense.”
Sherwood’s ascent has been helped tremendously by the previous leadership of Mosley. Multiple times over the last few seasons, the young linebacker has credited the former captain for the impact he has made both on the field and off.
Mosley is gone now, though. And Sherwood will be taking full control of the defensive ship for better or worse with the Jets. New York felt good enough about that decision that they paid the youngster $45 million over those three years.
Sherwood is now one of the highest-paid linebackers in the game. And while he still gets to play with an All-Pro in Quincy Williams, he is the new captain of the ship moving forward.
