The Jets defense could use Jadeveon Clowney, but his price and injury history are cause for concern.
Shockingly, one of the best edge rushers in the league is still unsigned.
Three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney continues to sit and wait for the right deal from the right team, and the Jets were among those seemingly interested. Those rumors appear a bit overblown, though, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported this week the Jets never seriously considering signing Clowney. The Jets have a lot more cap room now after Trumaine Johnson’s contract came off the books, so Clowney could still be on the table if Douglas wants to inject Gregg Williams’ defense with a powerful edge rusher for the right price.
Clowney probably won’t be a Jet, but that won’t stop us from going over the pros and cons of signing him.
(Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Pro: Pass rush upgrade
The Jets do not have a dominant pass rusher. While Williams worked wonders with the roster he had, the Jets were among the least effective at pressuring the quarterback in 2019. Jordan Jenkins and Jamal Adams led the team in sacks last season and Douglas drafted Jabari Zuniga in the third round of the 2020 draft, but the Jets need someone who would step in and strike fear into opposing offenses.
That’s where Clowney would step in and immediately have a presence. Though his sack totals dipped in Seattle, he tallied 18.5 sacks from 2017-18 and added six forced fumbles and 42 quarterback pressures over that span. He would be the Jets’ best trench defender and elevate what was already a surprising defense.
DeMarcus Ware thinks Von Miller and Bradley Chubb could be a better duo than Miller and Ware were.
Speaking with Mark Schlereth and Mike Evans on 104.3 The Fan on Wednesday, former Denver Broncos edge defender DeMarcus Ware was asked if Von Miller and Bradley Chubb could be as good of a combination as Ware and Miller were from 2014-2016.
Ware had a somewhat surprising answer.
“I think they can be a lot better,” Ware said. “They’re young. With Chubb, when I was [in Las Vegas] coaching him and Von, Chubb is one of those guys that — one thing I didn’t have was as much power and size as Chubb.
“He wasn’t as fast as me, but he was stronger. And that’s what you need on that right side to be able to push those big left tackles . . . I think this year, those guys are going to come back a little bit more hungry.”
Miller and Ware were a dynamic duo in Denver, recording 60 sacks as teammates. They dominated the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line in Super Bowl 50, totaling six quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in a 24-10 win.
If Miller and Chubb truly become a better duo than Miller and Ware, opposing offenses are going to be in a lot of trouble this season.
Remember Aaron Lynch’s brief Notre Dame career? The former prized recruit and impact freshman just signed a new deal with the NFL’s Jaguars
Quick – do you remember Aaron Lynch’s career at Notre Dame? If you blinked you very possibly may have missed it because he transfered to South Florida after just one season where there were certainly flashes of brilliance for the former five-star recruit.
Lynch played in 12 games his one season at Notre Dame in 2011, recording a team-high 5.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hurries. It’s almost scary to think about what might have been had he been on the 2012 defensive line with as great as that group was.
The former top-ten national recruit went on to play at South Florida in 2013 after having to sit out 2012 due to transferring. He then declared for the 2014 NFL Draft where the San Francisco 49ers eventually took him with the 150th overall pick.
Fast-forward six years down the road and Aaron Lynch has signed a new deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars after spending the last two years with the Chicago Bears.
Terms of Lynch’s deal in Jacksonville were not yet announced. Lynch has recorded 20 sacks in his 73 game NFL career to date and for the second time in his football career now finds himself leaving the mid-west to play for a Florida based football team.
The Seahawks traded up to snag Taylor, sending the message expectations will be high for the rookie. Taylor is clear as to what Seattle is expecting from him.
“They just want me to come in and compete,” Taylor told the media in his post-draft press conference. “Obviously, they want to put me down and rush the passer. They want me to go for it. The most important thing is to compete and making sure that I’m coming in and helping my team win.”
General manager John Schneider and Pete Carroll see the value in Taylor, who fits the LEO role the Seahawks favor. A versatile player out of a power conference, Taylor has what it takes to step in and immediately make a difference.
“I think I bring I lot to the table,” Taylor acknowledged. “I can run, I can cover, I can do whatever you ask a linebacker for and a defensive end. I can do it all and I think that’s what I bring to the table for Seattle.”
Here’s why the Broncos used a seventh-round draft pick on pass rusher Derrek Tuszka.
The Denver Broncos selected North Dakota State edge defender Derrek Tuszka in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday. Denver initially reached out to Tuszka’s agent to talk about the possibility of signing him as a college free agent after the draft.
After learning of interest from other teams, the Broncos opted to select Tuszka with pick No. 254 instead of trying to get into a bidding war with other teams.
“Towards the end of the draft here this afternoon, I was getting a bunch of calls,” Tuszka said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on April 25.” They reached out to my agent and were kind of talking about free agency, but with the number of free agent offers that I was having they found it was in their best interest to take me right towards the end there.”
Tuszka probably would have been one of Denver’s top UDFA targets had they not drafted him. The Broncos ended up signing seven UDFAs.
Tuszka (6-4, 251 pounds) was a productive pass rusher at NDSU, totaling 29.5 career sacks. He’ll compete for a backup outside linebacker job in Denver this offseason.
“I don’t try to get too fancy,” Tuszka said of his pass rushing. “It all starts with a good off. When you’re thinking about too many moves that you might have, it slows you down. I keep it pretty simple and just play football.”
Here are highlights of new Broncos outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka.
The Denver Broncos selected edge defender Derrek Tuszka in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday. Here are highlights from Tuszka’s time at NDSU:
Tuszka is an intriguing prospect who totaled 29.5 sacks in college. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are Denver’s two clear starters at outside linebacker with Jeremiah Attaochu and Malik Reed the favorites to serve as their backups in 2020. Tuszka might have to hope for a practice squad spot.
The Jets got a productive edge rusher in Florida defensive end Jabari Zuniga.
The Jets needed help rushing the passer, and Florida defensive Jabari Zuniga should deliver that to Gregg Williams’ defense from the edge.
The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Zuniga had three sacks in 2019 after missing all but five games due to an ankle injury. For his career, he tallied 18.5 sacks, 116 combined tackles and 33 tackles for a loss. He’s fast off the snap and can get the jump on a lineman before pouncing on the quarterback.
Zuniga is a great addition to the Jets’ defensive front because he can line up all over the line like the rest of the members of that unit. Though he typically lined up as a defensive end for the Gators, he can play in B-gap packages between the offensive guards and tackles and also outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme. Gregg Williams should have a lot of fun shifting around Zuniga, 2019 first-round pick Quinnen Williams and the rest of the defensive line to confuse opposing offensive lineman.
The issue with Zuniga is his aggressiveness when engaged with blockers. He also appears predictable with his rushes at times. His usage might be capped early on with the Jets, especially considering the depth in front of him.
Expect Zuniga to play sparingly to start for the Jets but see time in certain sub-packages where he’ll easily win matchups. He’s incredibly athletic and productive, so the potential and opportunity is certainly there for Zuniga to excel for the Jets.
With only seven days remaining to the 2020 NFL Draft it has become evidently clear where the problem areas are on this Dallas Cowboys roste
With only a few days remaining before the 2020 NFL Draft it has become clear where the problem areas are on this Dallas Cowboys roster. Cornerback, wide receiver, and after losing Robert Quinn, pass rusher may have shot to the top of priority list.
This Cowboys roster doesn’t offer much when it comes to a consistent edge pressure outside of DeMarcus Lawrence, but there is some hope they can get Randy Gregory and newly-acquired Aldon Smith reinstated, but whether they can get peak performance out of either is a longshot. There are developmental guys like Dorance Armstrong, Joe Jackson, and Jalen Jelks; inexperienced and underdeveloped. Tyrone Crawford will likely start at right end but is returning from hip surgery and could be a release candidate if the right fit comes along. While this draft class lacks elite pass rushers outside of Ohio State’s Chase Young, there are high-upside, intriguing prospects who can be valuable to a rotation. We take a look at some of the prospects the Cowboys could target and how they fit.
K’lavon Chassion, DE/OLB, LSU
The 6-foot-3, 254 pound Chassion is a long framed, flexible rusher who can play both with his hand in the ground and in a two-point stance. Chassion’s upside is off the charts matching his athletic profile with his performance towards the end of the season.
Chassion has excellent get off and speed to stress offensive tackles, along with the ability to bend and flatten around the edge. He has a very active motor and is a relentless rusher. Though undersized, he plays with some power and sets a good edge versus the run. Chaisson’s versatile to drop in underneath coverage and play with some awareness. His feel is another trait defensive coordinators have fallen in love with.
He works well when he is involved in games often generating pressure by staying tight to the twist and attacking openings with speed and quickness.
Chassion has a lack of production throughout his career- as he has only recorded 9.5 sacks within two seasons. Chassion finished his redshirt sophomore season with 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
He would help the team transition to a more multiple defense because of his pure athleticism something Mike Nolan has stated he will do this season.
Possessing an impressive diversity of moldable pass-rushing ingredients and moves, Chaisson has begun putting the recipe together to become a game-altering pass rusher. While some long-limbed rushers lack the bend and leverage to maximize their length, his fluidity and agility allow him to dip, corner, change direction and close in tight quarters or with extended range. He’s not a physical run defender and might be a liability early in his career against power. Chaisson’s stock has gained momentum with his surging performance matching the elite athletic qualities. It adds up to an increasingly confident projection as an impact pass-rusher with Pro-Bowl potential.
K’Lavon Chaisson is a dynamic threat off the edge — he possesses elite versatility, explosiveness and a prototypical build to play a hybrid EDGE. Chaisson is still developing as a pass rusher but his effectiveness in speed rushes and inside stunts will afford him a pathway to early disruption. Chaisson is a high end run defender with length and heavy hands — a true natural in that regard. The sky is the limit. Chaisson, with more rush versatility, can be a cornerstone defender.
Chaisson is a valuable commodity because he is a lightning-fast edge rusher and twitchy athlete. He is quick off the ball, possessing a fast first-step. He has a burst to run around the corner and a second gear to close on the quarterback. On top of being a pure speed rusher, Chaisson has an impressive arsenal of pass-rushing moves. With his wicked spin move, Chaisson is able to get back to the inside, and his loose hips allow him to dip underneath offensive tackles while getting turned to the quarterback. Chaisson has active hands and is able to use them at the same time as his feet. With his dynamic skill set with rare speed off the edge, Chaisson has the potential to be a double-digit sack-producing pass-rusher in the NFL.
“I feel pretty excited about what we have,” Broncos linebacker Von Miller said. “It’s going to be exciting.”
After acquiring defensive lineman Jurrell Casey in a trade with the Titans, the Broncos have a projected starting front seven of Von Miller, Todd Davis, Alexander Johnson, Bradley Chubb, Casey, Mike Purcell and Shelby Harris.
Denver will undoubtedly add more depth and competition through the draft but Miller is excited about the roster even before the draft.
“It’ll be incredible [to have Casey],” Miller said during a conference call with reporters on Apri 6. “I’m looking forward to it. He’s a great player, five-time Pro Bowler. I’ve been around him at the Pro Bowl several times . . . . I’m just super excited to have a guy like that on my team where I can rush with him.
“We can do all sorts of things together. He can rush with me, rush with Chubb. We get Shelby back. We get DeMarcus Walker. We’re going to get Dre’Mont Jones back as well. I feel pretty excited about what we have. It’s going to be exciting.”
Chubb was injured for most of last season and teams gave extra attention to Miller, who had a down year. With Chubb now healthy again and Casey added to the rotation, teams won’t be able to focus on Miller so much.
That should allow Denver’s defense to generate plenty of pressure.
“They’re going to push the quarterback into the pocket and make the job easy,” Broncos defender Jurrell Casey said of Miller and Chubb.
Broncos defensive lineman Jurrell Casey totaled 51 sacks during his nine years with the Titans. In Denver, he will now team up with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb to give the Broncos three feared pass rushers.
Casey is an interior pass rusher and Miller and Chubb are outside edge defenders. If opposing teams focus on Miller and Chubb, it will make Casey’s job a lot easier.
“Those guys are amazing pass rushers,” Casey said during a conference call with reporters on March 19. “To see how those guys play, the effort that they give every game, the tenacity . . . those guys are great. What else can a guy like me who loves the pass rush and getting after the quarterback ask for but have two great edge rushers who can collapse the pocket and make the job a lot easier for me where I don’t have to push a hundred guys backward and push them too far?
“They’re going to push the quarterback into the pocket and make the job easy. Nobody can complain about that right.”
In 2018, when all three players were healthy, Casey, Miller and Chubb combined to total 33.5 sacks. Denver fans would love to see that kind of production from the three defenders this season.
