The New York Jets weren't done adding rookies to their roster following the NFL Draft, they've been very active in the undrafted free agent market, with one name sticking out above the rest.
The Jets inked German offensive tackle Leander Wiegand to a deal that contains a handsome $249,000 guarantee, the largest of any UDFA player they've signed this season and one of the highest UDFA contracts around the league.
The Jets clearly believe in Wiegand's potential, and likely signifies that he will be the team's International Player Pathway practice squad representative, a clever move which doesn't count against team roster totals.
Wiegand boasts a glowing athletic profile. Wiegand stands at 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, and he truly packs a punch. At his pro day, he did 38 reps on the 225 bench press, five more than any player at this year's NFL Combine and seven more than Jets' first round pick Armand Membou, who posted the best performance among offensive tackles at the combine.
Wiegand had an unconventional path to the NFL. He originally committed to play for the UFC Knights in 2021, but after a few months left the school and returned to Germany for personal reasons. He continued on his football career in Europe, first playing for the Cologne Centurions before becoming a major piece of the Rhein Fire's championship-winning offense. Wiegand was named first-team All-ELF that season.
In 2024, Wiegand joined the Munich Ravens, where he was coached by former Cleveland Browns All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas.
Wiegand has demonstrated positional versatility in his time in Europe. When playing with the Rhein Fire, he caught a touchdown pass after lining up at tight end. He's also had plenty of experience lining up as an extra offensive lineman.
New Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and offensive line coach Steve Heiden (himself a former NFL tight end) could deploy Wiegand in a similar fashion to how Aaron Glenn's former team - the Detroit Lions - used fan favorite Dan Skipper, who would frequently line up as a jumbo extra lineman or an eligible receiver.
The Jets are betting on Wiegand's physical traits to pan out, and he will challenge Obinna Eze for the Jets' designated IPP spot.
