The “JFM role.”
It is something New York Jets fans have longed for the team to address since Joe Douglas’ bizarre decision to trade John Franklin-Myers ahead of the 2024 season.
Franklin-Myers made a name for himself in New York’s defense as a versatile weapon on the defensive line. At 6-foot-4 and 288 pounds with plus athleticism, Franklin-Myers had enough quickness to cause havoc as an interior pass rusher and enough size to set the edge effectively. The Jets would play him outside on early downs and kick him inside on passing downs.
After dealing Franklin-Myers, the Jets went through the 2024 season without an adequate replacement. Then, they hired Aaron Glenn as their new head coach, only furthering the need for a JFM replacement. As the Lions’ defensive coordinator, Glenn loved versatile defensive ends with JFM-esque versatility.
While the Jets did not go out and find a clear-cut replacement for the JFM role this offseason, they have multiple players on the roster who could compete for the spot. One player who many fans have pinpointed as a potential option is Tyler Baron.
A fifth-round rookie out of Miami, Baron does not quite have JFM’s frame, standing at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds. However, he played a decent number of interior reps at Miami, which has some fans thinking he could do the same in Glenn’s defense.
Baron is a solid athlete, registering a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.65. He ran an impressive 4.62 in the forty, although he struggled in the bench press (19 reps), three-cone (7.41), and shuttle (4.53).
After four years at Tennessee, Baron transferred to Miami in 2024, where he recorded 38 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 13 games. He will turn 24 in October, so he is on the older end for a draft prospect.
Is Baron a legitimate candidate to fill the JFM role? What should fans realistically expect from him in his rookie season?
Only the film can answer these questions.
Below is Blewett’s Blitz’s full Tyler Baron scouting report (strengths and weaknesses) and film review, which features 18 plays.