One year ago, Jamien Sherwood had only started seven games in three NFL seasons.
Today, he has the fifth-highest salary among linebackers at $15 million.
The New York Jets’ new regime displayed its confidence in Sherwood this March, when they prevented the free-agent-to-be from hitting the open market by signing him to a three-year, $45 million deal. It was a well-deserved reward for the man voted Curtis Martin Team MVP by his teammates.
Sherwood’s lucrative contract is the culmination of a four-year development arc. The Jets took him in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, planning to convert him to linebacker after he played safety at Auburn. Sherwood played five games in his rookie season, struggling at his new position until a torn Achilles ended his season.
In 2022, Sherwood was removed from the Jets’ defensive plans, playing just 25 defensive snaps in 17 games. However, he showed flashes in his very limited playing time, managing to rack up 10 tackles with those 25 snaps. He also played a key role on special teams, logging 309 snaps in that phase.
Sherwood returned to the Jets’ defensive rotation in 2023, playing 194 snaps across 17 games (17% of defensive snaps). He continued to show flashes of ability with his limited chances, finishing the year with 33 defensive tackles while missing just two tackles.
Two weeks into the 2024 season, Sherwood was called upon to take over for C.J. Mosley due to the veteran’s injury. From there, Sherwood never relinquished the Jets’ starting role. He finished the year with 158 tackles, including an NFL-best 98 solo tackles.
All of a sudden, the Jets’ former fifth-round project is one of the richest linebackers in the NFL. Only Zack Baun, Tremaine Edmunds, Roquan Smith, and Fred Warner earn a higher salary at the position.
Is Sherwood quite that good at the linebacker position? Or is he a few steps behind his pay grade?
Only the film can answer those questions.
Below is Blewett’s Blitz’s full Jamien Sherwood film review, breaking down 23 plays from Sherwood’s 2024 season.