The New York Jets have high expectations for their offensive line in 2025. After years of neglect, the previous regime made it a top priority.
From 2020 to 2024, the Jets used three top-14 picks, a second-round pick, and two fourth-round picks on the offensive line. General manager Darren Mougey kept that trend going, selecting tackle Armand Membou with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
New York hopes that 2025 will be the year it all comes together.
The group showed positive signs in the preseason. Across two preseason games, the Jets’ five starters combined to allow one pressure.
But all that matters is what happens after the calendar flips to September. And with the way New York’s schedule shook out, the unit won’t have time to slowly get into its groove.
The Jets’ offensive line will kick off its schedule with one of the biggest tests the NFL has to offer.
The Steelers DL will push the Jets OL to its limits
Few teams in the NFL boast the talent and depth that the Steelers’ defensive line possesses. The unit is led by the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt. Behind him is the underappreciated veteran defensive tackle, Cameron Heyward, who is coming off his fourth first-team All-Pro selection.
Those two alone would give the Steelers one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. Since 2019, they have combined for seven first-team All-Pro selections and two second-team nods.
While they already had two stars to anchor the group, the Steelers have continued to add talent to the group.
Pittsburgh boasts excellent depth on the edge. Alex Highsmith has 27.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles over the last three years. Nick Herbig has been solid as a rotational player, picking up 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles on just 219 pass-rush snaps last season.
At defensive tackle, Pittsburgh used a 2025 first-round pick (21st overall) on Oregon’s Derrick Harmon. The Steelers chose Keeanu Benton in the second round of the 2023 draft, who is looking for a breakout in his third season.
While pass rush is the focus, the Steelers’ defensive line is stout against the run as well. In 2024, Pittsburgh ranked fifth-best in yards per carry allowed (4.1).
So, how will they match up against the Jets’ offensive line?
Battles to watch
Heading into the game, we can expect the most common matchups to look like this:
- LT Olu Fashanu vs OLB Alex Highsmith
- LG John Simpson vs DT Cameron Heyward
- C Joe Tippmann vs DT Keeanu Benton
- RG Alijah Vera-Tucker vs DT Derrick Harmon
- RT Armand Membou vs OLB TJ Watt
If rookie right tackle Armand Membou thought he would have an easy start to his career, he’s in for a rude awakening. Membou will be facing off against T.J. Watt. In 2024, Watt played 97.8% of his snaps on the left side.
To Membou’s benefit, Watt is coming off a down year, posting a career-low pressure rate of 9.2% (below the NFL average for edge rushers). It was the first time in Watt’s career that his pressure rate fell under 10%. However, he still made splash plays, collecting 12 sacks and a league-leading six forced fumbles. He was also dominant against the run, earning a career-high 91.4 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus.
To Membou’s left, star right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker would face off against rookie Derrick Harmon, although the rookie is unlikely to play due to a sprained MCL. With Harmon sidelined, Vera-Tucker could see more of backup tackles Isaiahh Loudermilk and Daniel Ekuale.
Vera-Tucker is coming off a career year, setting new personal bests in pressure rate allowed (2.75%, fifth-lowest among 66 guards) and PFF’s overall grade (77.2, 11th). With Harmon sidelined, AVT has a favorable matchup in front of him.
Center Joe Tippmann, or potentially Josh Myers if you believe Aaron Glenn, will face off against nose tackle Keeanu Benton.
Tippman emerged as one of the better centers in the NFL in his second season, ranking as the ninth-best center in PFF’s rankings (73.4 overall grade). His biggest concerns are snap accuracy and his awareness in pass protection, which contributed to his allowing five sacks.
Meanwhile, Benton was taken six picks after Tippmann in 2023 and has served as the Steelers’ primary nose tackle. After an impressive rookie season, Benton plateaued in 2024, posting an identical total of sacks (1.0), tackles (36), and pressures (22) despite playing 158 more snaps.
While Benton’s PFF grades may not jump out, he had the fourth-highest overall grade (68.2) among 22 defensive tackles who played over 100 snaps in the A gap, showing he is one of the better players in his role. It should be a fun battle between the 43rd and 49th picks from the 2023 NFL draft.
Left guard John Simpson will have his hands full, facing off against veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. Last year, Heyward played on the right side of the defensive line on 95.3% of his defensive snaps.
Signed to a reasonable contract, Simpson outperformed it with excellent play in both phases. In 2024, Simpson ranked top 10 among guards in run blocking grade (79.2, ninth), pressure rate allowed (3.13%, 9th), and pass block efficiency (98.2, 10th).
However, Simpson will be pushed to the limit against Heyward. Heyward is as dominant against the run as he is against the pass. In my three-year analysis from 2022 to 2024, Heyward finished as the third-best defensive tackle.
Even in his 14th season, Heyward ranked first among defensive tackles in stops (35), fourth in sacks (10), and fourth in pressures (56), backed up with top 5-10 efficiency and PFF grades to boot.
While Heyward didn’t get the new contract he wanted after a brief hold-in, Heyward returned to practice last week and will be ready to go for Week 1.
Wrapping up our matchups is second-year offensive tackle Olu Fashanu against outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. Fashanu flashed his potential as a rookie, displaying excellent technique in pass protection. This preseason, he’s added strength and further refined his play. Highsmith will be an excellent test to see how high his ceiling is.
While Watt deservedly gets the attention, Highsmith has proven he should be feared as well. Despite missing time with an ankle and groin injury in 2024, Highsmith finished the 2024 season ranking sixth or higher among edge rushers in pressure rate (16.11%, 6th), PFF overall grade (89.5, 6th), pass rush grade (89.7, 5th), and run defense grade (79.7, 6th).
Highsmith missed this preseason with another groin injury but is expected to be back for Week 1 as well.
We will learn who the Jets’ offensive line is
Many Jets fans are hoping that the offensive line can achieve top 10 status in 2025. We will find out immediately if they have that type of potential.
On Sunday, the Jets’ entire offensive line will be tested each and every play. With two perennial All-Pros, high-quality depth on the edge, and a top-ranked nose tackle, the Steelers will be applying pressure from every direction.
There will be no rest for the weary, either.
After hosting the Steelers, the Jets will face off against the Buffalo Bills. While they’re not as deep as the Steelers, they have some studs in defensive end Greggory Rousseau and defensive tackle Ed Oliver. A healthy Joey Bosa can elevate the unit even further.
The Jets have built their offensive line brick by brick over the last few years. This is the year it should finally come together. If the unit fulfills its potential, the Jets can make noise in 2025 regardless of their quarterback situation.
There is no better opponent to prove it against than Pittsburgh.