The New York Jets will have a new look next season, with a new head coach in Aaron Glenn and new general manager in Darren Mougey. The team is also going to have a new face at quarterback, and will likely feature a number of new starters by the time preseason rolls around.
One player who might not stick with the team is breakout star Jamien Sherwood.
Sherwood is coming off of a breakout 2024 season. The 2021 fifth-round pick had 158 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. He also led the NFL with 98 solo tackles.
Sherwood is heading to free agency, and is expected to draw plenty of interest on the open market. Pro Football Network's Ben Rolfe believes Sherwood will follow what has become a long line of Jets leaving for the Philadelphia Eagles.
"If the Eagles can get Sherwood at around $7 million a year and help him continue his progression that we saw in 2024, then they may be able to have him be a centerpiece of their defense for the next four or more years. Sherwood is the ideal combination between a proven commodity and a slightly more cost-effective option than the top of the market." Rolfe wrote.
Sherwood makes sense for the Eagles, who have three linebackers entering free agency as well, including their starter Zack Baun, who is projected to make $9.7 million per season, per Spotrac.
While the Jets have more cap space to work with than the Eagles, there may be reason to believe the Jets are okay with their breakout star walking.
Jets X's Robby Sabo argued that Glenn may want more versatility in the linebacker rotation.
"Glenn's Detroit Lions defenses were much more hybrid in nature. As an unapologetic Bill Parcells disciple, he not only believes in play-design flexibility, but he also lives and dies with a versatile play-stye mindset.
"If Quincy Williams is one of the two starting linebackers, I would be surprised to see Glenn bring Sherwood back as the other.
"Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 225 pounds, Williams is similar in nature to the 6-foot-2, 216-pound Sherwood. Both are smaller, faster, quicker linebackers who range with the best of them and drop into coverage nicely.
"It sounds great for the subpackage (nickel, dime, etc.), but Sherwood is ready to sign starting linebacker money in free agency. I expect Glenn to seek a much heavier linebacker to play alongside Quincy." Sabo wrote.
According to Pro Football Focus, Sherwood posted grades of 77.1 in run defense, 66.2 in coverage and 68.1 in pass-rush, showcasing incredible versatility. However, perhaps Glenn would prefer a master-of-one over a jack-of-all-trades.
