One of the New York Jets’ waiver wire claims on Monday was linebacker Trevin Wallace.
Wallace, 23, was waived by the Carolina Panthers as part of the team’s final cuts before being scooped up by Gang Green.
As we broke down, linebacker is a spot the Jets needed to target after their initial 53-man roster was released. Especially after Mykal Walker’s season-ending injury, the team lacks a legitimate candidate to run away with the LB3 job behind Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood.
Kiko Mauigoa, a 2025 fifth-round pick, has flashed, but hasn’t consistently displayed that he can be relied upon as a rotational piece. Marcelino McCrary-Ball, on the other hand, offers a lot on special teams but has limitations defensively.
With those factors in mind, there is a clear path for Wallace. What does he truly offer, though? Is he capable of earning the Jets’ LB3 job?
Wallace’s background
The 23-year-old Wallace was selected by Carolina in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Kentucky. Having been selected with the No. 72 overall pick, he was over-drafted according to his No. 101 rank on Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board.
Entering the draft, he was highly touted for his athleticism. He earned an excellent 9.33 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), including a 4.51 40-yard dash and a 37.5-inch vertical.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds, he has sideline-to-sideline range, which is valuable in a modern-day linebacker.
Throughout his first two seasons in the NFL, Wallace has played in 25 games (20 starts) while recording 125 combo tackles (72 solo, 7.0 for loss) along with 3.0 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
In 2025, he started all 12 games he played in, logging 2.0 of his career 3.0 sacks and all four of his career pass deflections.
However, it wasn’t enough to hold down a starting role moving forward. Wallace spent this summer competing with veteran Claudin Cherelus for Carolina’s second starting linebacker spot alongside Devin Lloyd.
Wallace struggled throughout camp and failed to secure the role. Given that, just ahead of cutdown day, the Panthers signed Bobby Okereke, adding a veteran presence to the room and leaving Wallace as the odd man out.
It’s also important to keep in mind that he doesn’t offer much experience on special teams, which limits his role. Many depth linebackers, like McCrary-Ball, earn roster spots because of their value on special teams. That is the main path to snaps for depth linebackers. Since Wallace isn’t a plus special-teamer, it leaves him at a disadvantage.
Looking at Wallace’s career numbers, there are a few areas of potential that pop out, but also some significant weaknesses that explain why he was released.
Wallace has converted three of his 10 career total pressures into sacks, which shows his ability to use his closing speed to finish plays when he gets home as a blitzer. He has also recorded two hits, meaning that five of his 10 pressures resulted in the quarterback getting knocked down, a 50.0% rate; the 2025 league average for linebackers was 34.5%.
Coverage-wise, the Kentucky product has shown an ability to hold up fairly well. He finished the 2025 season with a 64.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 23rd among 88 qualified linebackers.
On 39 throws in his direction, Wallace allowed 31 to be completed for 237 yards (7.6 yards per reception) and two touchdowns while also recording two pass breakups despite not coming away with an interception.
Stopping the run is Wallace’s main issue. In 2025, his 43.3 run defense grade at PFF placed him 85th among 88 qualified linebackers. He made just five run stops on 254 run defense snaps, a run-stop rate of 2.0%, the lowest among qualified linebackers.
During the 2024 season, his 46.9 run defense grade was also among the worst in the league, finishing 80th out of 83 LBs.
As a blitzer, while Wallace finishes nicely when he gets home, the issue is that he does not get home often. With 10 total pressures on 85 career pass-rush snaps, his pressure rate is 11.8%, well below the 2025 NFL average for linebackers (18.4%).
With all of that in mind, what could Wallace’s role look like with the Jets?
Could Wallace emerge as the Jets’ LB3?
Absolutely. While Wallace’s struggles against the run are concerning, there is still plenty to like about what he can bring to the Jets’ linebacker room.
Right off the jump, his athleticism alone gives the room a sizeable boost. He has legitimate sideline-to-sideline speed while holding his own in coverage and flashing upside as a blitzer. Those are valuable traits. He can help the Jets in coverage against athletic tight ends or running backs.
His struggles against the run are alarming. The Jets can work around that, though.
Against more physical rushing attacks, Mauigoa could profile as the more favorable option for New York. At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Mauigoa plays a more physical brand of football and has flashed as a run defender. The Jets could lean on him over Wallace when they need another LB to get downhill and stop the ball carrier.
Wallace, meanwhile, offers different tools.
In more obvious passing situations, he has the advantage because of his speed and coverage ability.
When you add all of that up, Wallace is an intriguing waiver claim who can help the Jets in a big way. He is just 23 years old and was a third-round pick two years ago. Add in the athleticism and coverage ability, and you get a potential rotational player in an area where the team needed one.
Wallace gives the Jets a serviceable rotational piece at linebacker along with legitimate long-term upside.
