New York Jets: Biggest Needs for 2016

Defensive Line

Like I’ve mentioned, it’ll be a tight budget with the salary cap, but they should try to keep the Big Four together.

Both Wilkerson and Harrison will become free agents and they’re among the top players at their respective positions, so they’ll get a serious pay day if the Jets let them hit the market. Wilkerson, who broke his leg in Week 17, is likely to earn a franchise tag, as he and New York are far apart on a long-term deal.

Harrison considers himself to be the NFL’s best nose tackle, so he probably wants to be shown the money. The Jets could live without him (don’t forget about Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams) but with an additional suspension for Richardson a possibility, this brick wall of a defensive line may come crumbling down.

“Just can’t keep everybody on this defensive line. It’s just not realistic. Guys out-played their contracts. I’m going to miss them.”-Sheldon Richardson

New York only allowed 83 yards per game on the ground (second best in the NFL) and 3.58 per rush (third best). Many people criticize the D-Line for not generating enough sacks (only 21.5 as a group), but the Jets played the majority of the season with four defensive tackles on the field (Wilkerson, Williams, Harrison and Richardson). They’re best trait is that they’re power rushers that bring the run game to a halt. They are not speed rushers on the edge, so their sack production was good enough.

The thing the Jets should do is focus on keeping at least three of the four defensive linemen. But right now it’s tough to say exactly what route Maccagnan will go, but it’s likely he retains Wilkerson’s rights for at least a year with the franchise tag, (about a $16 million salary cap hit) and let the rest play out.

Next: Linebackers