One of the most underrated spots on an NFL defense is the third linebacker.
In a league where nickel packages (5 DBs) are used more than half the time by just about every defense, there are usually two linebackers on the field nowadays. However, a third linebacker is often still used in base packages (4 DBs). This player can participate in up to 30-40% of the defensive snaps in a game.
So, for the New York Jets, the third linebacker spot is more than just a backup to Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood. This player will have a key rotational role.
With training camp just a few days away, the Jets are set to host an open competition for the LB3 role. Veterans Mykal Walker and Marcelino McCrary-Ball will make their bids, but the Jets and their fans are hoping to see second-year man Francisco Mauigoa take a leap and win the spot.
A fifth-round pick out of Miami in 2025, Mauigoa came into the NFL with loads of athleticism, boasting a Relative Athletic Score of 9.17. However, he was raw as a player, hence that he wasn’t drafted until the fifth round.
Mauigoa got a decent amount of looks in his rookie season. He started eight of his 12 games and finished the year with 329 defensive snaps.
Did Mauigoa show legitimate promise in his rookie year? Where does he need to improve to secure the Jets’ LB3 role in 2026?
In the latest episode of Blewett’s Blitz, we answer all of those questions and more in a full film review of Francisco Mauigoa’s rookie season, seen below.
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