New York Jets: Early starting lineup projections 2018, defense

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images /
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Leonard Williams New York Jets
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images /

New York Jets mandatory minicamp is now over. It’s time to give an early projection of what their starting defensive lineup will look like heading into training camp.

Now that organized team activities (OTA’s) and mandatory minicamp are in the books for the New York Jets, it’s time to project what their starting defensive unit should look like with a little over a month to go before training camp commences. It’s still early, that’s true. With that being said, let’s take a look at how Kacy Rodgers’ defensive corps shapes up as we head towards July.

Gang Green ranked 25th defensively in the NFL in yards from scrimmage last year, allowing 352.3 yards per game. They also tied for 22nd in the league by giving up an average of 23.9 points per contest. There is obviously a great deal of improvement that needs to be accomplished.

Without any further adieu:

Defensive Line

Leonard Williams (DE)
Steve McLendon (NT)
Henry Anderson (DE)

This will be an important upcoming season for Williams. He registered just two sacks last year, mostly because he was constantly double-teamed after Sheldon Richardson was traded. He was graded by Pro Football Focus Edge as the 10th-ranked 3-4 defensive end in 2017. A former Pro Bowl performer in 2016, the USC product has 12 career sacks and has always been stout in stopping the run. The 6-5, 302-pounder is entering his fourth NFL campaign and has the ability to be a Pro Bowler once again.

McLendon did a decent job stuffing the rush last year and tallied 46 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His job is not totally secure though with Deon Simon and rookie Folorunso Fatukasi vying for playing time.

A diamond in the rough could be Anderson, who was acquired on Draft Day from the Indianapolis Colts. The three-year league veteran was graded by Pro Football Focus as the No. 15 run-stopper at defensive tackle among 44 qualifiers last year.

A player to watch closely is rookie Nathan Shepherd. The 6-4, 315-pound tackle dominated at the Division II level for Fort Hays State but making the jump to the NFL is a whole different story. He impressed at the NFL Combine and during Senior Bowl practices though. The Jets like his upside — he should be a part of the line rotation sooner rather than later.