The Jets have spent Day 1 of free agency overhauling their defense.
The team agreed to deals with four free agent defenders after making a trade for another defender earlier in the day.
The Jets agreed to deals with linebacker Demario Davis, defensive tackle David Onyemata and edge rushers Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare on Monday, according to sources. This came hours after general manager Darren Mougey agreed to a trade to acquire safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins. None of these deals can be made official until 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Jets needed to address a defense that finished 31st in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed in 2025. They fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks in the middle of the season. Head coach Aaron Glenn is set to take over play-calling in 2026 and needs to rebuild the defense.
Davis returns to the Jets for a third time on a two-year, $22 million deal. The 37-year-old was originally drafted by the Jets in the third round of the 2012 Draft. After one year with the Browns, he returned to the Jets in 2017 in a trade but then departed again as a free agent. He spent the last eight years with the Saints, where he went to two Pro Bowls.
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Davis gives Glenn a player he knows from their time together with the Saints. Davis had 143 tackles and two forced fumbles last season for New Orleans.
The Jets put an emphasis on adding veteran leaders, particularly on defense. Davis and Fitzpatrick fit that bill.
The team also beefed up its pass rush, which got very thin after trading away Jermaine Johnson. Ossai agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal that includes $22.5 million guaranteed. Ossai, a third-round pick in 2021 by the Bengals, has had five sacks in each of the last two years. He also forced two fumbles in each of those years.
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The Jets are expected to take an edge rusher at No. 2 overall in next month’s NFL draft but still needed to address the position in free agency.
The also agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal with Enagbare. He was taken in the fifth round in 2022 by the Packers, who he has played for the last four years. He has 11 ½ career sacks, with 2 ½ last year.
Onyemata gives the Jets another defensive tackle, joining Harrison Phillips, Jowon Briggs and nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat in the middle of the defensive line. The 33-year-old is another player that Glenn knows from the Saints. Onyemata was in New Orleans from 2016-22 before playing for the Falcons in the last three years. He had 62 tackles and a sack last year.
The Jets also lost a few of their own free agents on Monday. Kicker Nick Folk agreed to a two-year deal with the Falcons, leaving a void at kicker for the Jets. Folk made 28-of-29 field goal attempts last season for the team. Guard John Simpson agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with the Ravens.
