The preseason can always be counted on to deliver some surprising underdog stories in every NFL locker room.

The New York Jets have had a fair share of those players over the years, with many of them developing into regular-season contributors. They may have another one on their hands in edge rusher Nate Lynn.

UDFA Mory Bamba filled the role of fan-favorite darling during the team’s preseason opener, but Bamba’s knee injury left a vacancy for another player to step into those shoes. Lynn did exactly that during the Jets’ clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night.

Lynn tallied four total pressures, two of those being sacks. His 89.9 overall grade at Pro Football Focus makes him the third-highest-graded edge rusher in the NFL this preseason (min. 20 snaps).

So, who exactly is Nate Lynn?

Here’s a deep dive into the 24-year-old who signed with the team three days before his dominant preseason outing.

Background

Lynn attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. However, he struggled to consistently find the field and was ranked a zero-star recruit.

Subsequently, he transferred to Zebulon B. Vance High School in Charlotte, N.C., for his senior year, where he dominated right away. Lynn earned all-conference honors after posting 61 tackles (21 for loss) and 13 sacks while leading the team to a state championship appearance.

Following a breakout senior season, he had three Division I offers and chose to play at William & Mary, an FCS program.

As a freshman during the 2019 season, he played in all 12 games while posting 14 tackles and 1.5 for loss. He really put his name on the map during his redshirt sophomore season in 2021.

That year, he collected 52 tackles (13.5 for loss), 12 sacks and forced six fumbles. Those efforts earned Lynn first-team FCS All-American honors. He earned those honors once again in 2022 and 2023, concluding his NCAA career with a program record 12 forced fumbles and a second-best 28 sacks.

Entering the 2024 NFL draft, Lynn earned an 8.27 RAS (Relative Athletic Score). At 6-foot-2 and 253 pounds, he ran a highly respectable 4.82 40-yard dash along with a 7.43-second three-cone drill.

Per NFL Mock Draft Database, Lynn was the consensus No. 444 overall prospect entering the draft, and as expected, he ultimately went undrafted and signed with the Detroit Lions.

For someone who redshirted in college and is in his third summer as a pro, he is fairly young, having just turned 24 on July 6.

Lynn’s NFL career

After signing with the Lions, everything had gone according to plan for Lynn.

He impressed throughout the summer and the team’s offseason programs, giving him a legitimate chance to stick around on Detroit’s 53-man roster.

That carried over to the start of the preseason. During the Lions’ preseason opener, Lynn compiled two quarterback hits, two hurries and a sack across just 13 pass-rush snaps, contributing to an 84.9 pass-rushing grade from PFF.

However, due to a torn ligament in his shoulder, he missed the remainder of the season, although Detroit stashed him on their injured reserve list, indicating they remained intrigued by his upside.

He got a second chance to prove himself in 2025, and Lynn did everything he could to show that he was worthy of a roster spot. He finished the preseason with eight hurries, one sack and a quarterback hit, leading to a 90.6 pass-rushing grade at PFF.

However, Lynn couldn’t crack the Lions’ final roster and latched onto the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad without being elevated to the active roster for a game last season.

Lynn’s situation with the Jets

Lynn is in a unique situation with the Jets, having signed less than a week ago.

He is far from your typical mid-summer pickup, though. Lynn’s preseason track record suggests he is more than just a roster-filler. After his two-sack performance on Friday night, Lynn has now rushed the passer at a high level in three straight preseasons.

Over 100 career pass-rush snaps in the preseason (6 games), Lynn has recorded 19 total pressures (an absurd pressure rate of 19%), including four sacks. He’s recorded at least three total pressures in five of his six appearances.

However, Lynn is competing for a spot in one of the most competitive rooms on the Jets’ depth chart: edge rusher. After revamping the room this offseason, there isn’t much room for preseason risers to earn a spot.

Here is a look at the Jets’ defensive end depth chart.

  • Joseph Ossai
  • David Bailey
  • Will McDonald
  • Kingsley Enagbare
  • Braiden McGregor
  • Nathan Voorhis
  • Paschal Ekeji
  • Nate Lynn

If Lynn has a strong preseason finale, perhaps he could force the Jets to keep him as their fifth edge rusher and prevent any other team from poaching him.

Teams often carry 10 defensive linemen. The Jets have nine locks:

  • EDGE Joseph Ossai
  • EDGE David Bailey
  • EDGE Will McDonald
  • EDGE Kingsley Enagbare
  • DT T’Vondre Sweat
  • DT Jowon Briggs
  • DT Harrison Phillips
  • DT David Onyemata
  • DT Darrell Jackson Jr.

That leaves a 10th spot up for grabs, should the Jets choose to keep that many defensive linemen. Defensive tackle Payton Page and edge rusher Braiden McGregor are among the other competitors for that spot, but neither player has shown much over two preseason games.

The door is wide-open for Lynn.

At the very least, he has shown enough to warrant a practice squad spot. He is also familiar with the team’s defensive coaching staff, having played under Aaron Glenn and assistant defensive line coach Cameron Davis with the Lions in 2024.

Whether it is on the roster or practice squad, the Jets should do what it takes to keep Lynn around.