No unit on the New York Jets’ roster underwent more changes than the defensive line in the 2026 offseason. After all, it was much-needed after a season in which New York’s defense collected just 26 sacks.
Between the trade market, free agency, and the NFL draft, the Jets aggressively overhauled their front seven, including the defensive tackles, the edge rushers, and the linebackers. Those changes have captured people’s attention around the NFL.
The folks at Sharp Football Stats ranked all front sevens across the NFL using “a combination of numbers, film, and projections.” Despite the Jets finishing 31st in sacks, 32nd in pressure rate, and 29th in opponent rushing yards per game last season, Sharp Football Stats put New York’s front seven all the way up at 16th in their 2026 rankings.
“New York was aggressive in attempting to rebuild the front seven with seven new players likely factoring into the rotation, most notably first-round pick David Bailey. How much gas veterans David Onyemata and Demario Davis have left in the tank will likely have a significant impact on the success of this unit.”
The Jets are ranked one spot ahead of the Dallas Cowboys, whose front seven is led by Quinnen Williams. New York acquired a first-round pick and a second-round pick from Dallas for Williams’ services last season; yet, here they are with a defensive line that is considered to be in the same ballpark talent-wise.
New York’s front seven features an interesting combination of 30-plus veterans and up-and-coming talent. Demario Davis, David Onyemata, and Harrison Phillips will seek to prove they still have tread on their tires, while rookies David Bailey and Darrell Jackson Jr. will try to hit the ground running. Third-year man Jowon Briggs is looking to sustain the star-level performance he showed in the second half of the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, first-round talent Will McDonald is hoping to finally bring everything together in his fourth season. The Iowa State edge rusher saw his numbers drop in 2025, but the film showed a player who looked much more dominant through the eye test than he did on the stat sheet.
There is plenty of projection involved with this unit, but its overall depth and its quantity of veteran talent give it a high floor, which justifies its middle-of-the-pack ranking going into 2026. After a season in which the Jets arguably had the worst front seven in the NFL, that would represent a massive leap.
