With the NFL season drawing to a close, it’s been a tough time for the Jets. After seemingly turning the corner after winning three of their last five games, New York has since lost their third game in a row after losing to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The play of undrafted rookie Brady Cook has had the same problems as Justin Fields when he was the quarterback. The defense hasn’t fared as well either. However, there is one lone bright spot in this lost season. Considered an afterthought after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns in August, Darren Mougey may have found a gem. After the loss of Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, New York needed an interior defensive lineman to step up. Not only did he answer the call, but defensive tackle Jowon Briggs has become a focal point on defense. At only 24 years old, Briggs has an opportunity to prosper in the defense long term.
Jowon Briggs Breakout Is a Bright Spot in Jets Dark Season
The 2024 season was an absolute disappointment for the Jets. With the expectation of playoffs, New York finished the season with a 5-12 record and an interim head coach. Choosing not to retain interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, Woody Johnson handed the keys to ex-cornerback turned defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. After a successful eight-season tenure starting with the Jets, Glenn took to coaching like a fish in water after retiring. Glenn got the job after his success with the Detroit Lions defense under Dan Campbell. However, the Jets roster had nowhere near the level of talent seen in the Motor City.
During the offseason, the Jets made major changes along the interior of the defensive line. In August, New York made a trade with the Cleveland Browns. After drafting Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham fifth overall, Cleveland had a surplus of interior linemen. As a result, New York acquired Jowon Briggs in exchange for a sixth-round pick. With less than two weeks remaining, the trade looked like a stroke of genius for general manager Darren Mougey.
Jowon Briggs is turning into a great pass rusher
During his rookie season, Briggs hardly got a true opportunity to prove himself. Through the first 11 weeks of his rookie season, Briggs was inactive. It wasn’t until December 2 that he made his debut vs. the Denver Broncos. Through only six games of his rookie season, Briggs had only 13 tackles, two quarterback hits, and a single tackle for loss. After such limited action in his rookie season in Cleveland, Jowon Briggs season with the Jets stands out that much more.
Look where Jowon Briggs’ numbers are at for the FULL season (not even just the post-trade stretch)
Ranks among DTs…
– 2nd in pressure rate (13.4%)
– 3rd in pass-rush win rate (15.2%)
– 5th in PFF pass-rush grade (82.4)Jeffery Simmons is the only other player top-5 in all 3. pic.twitter.com/1Yyf8rdll3
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) December 17, 2025
Thus far, Jowon Briggs has played in 12 games for the Jets this season, and started in six games after the Quinnen Williams trade. Briggs has 29 total tackles on the season, including 15 solo tackles with seven tackles for loss. However, it’s his four sacks with 10 quarterback hits that really stand out. Being paired with a respected veteran like Harrison Phillips, Briggs has been able to provide interior pass rush that New York lost after Williams was traded. Unfortunately, it hasn’t benefited the rest of the defensive line due to the others’ inconsistent play, especially off the edge. While Will McDonald has eight sacks on the season, his sack vs. the Saints on Sunday was his first since the four sack game vs. the Browns back in early November. Meanwhile, Jermaine Johnson has fared much better as a run stopper compared to a pass rusher with only three sacks this year.
Setting The Stage for 2026
With the flashes shown this season, Jowon Briggs could be in for a much larger role heading into 2026. Thankfully, with over $90 million in cap space and four draft picks within the top-50 draft picks, New York could look to address the defensive line with a great class of edge rushers. If they go a different route for a quarterback, one of New York’s first-round picks could turn into someone like Keldrick Faulk. The Auburn edge rusher has only two sacks this season, but broke out with a seven-sack 2024 season. Adding an edge rusher with Faulk’s size at 6’6 & 285 lbs, Faulk would benefit indirectly from the pressure Briggs creates on the interior. However, no matter how New York addresses the rest of the defensive line, Aaron Glenn should feel confident in the kind of impact Jowon Briggs offers to this defense long term.
Main Photo: [Peter Casey] – Imagn Images