Taking a look at a Jets defensive line prospect
The Jets recently signed former Appalachian State defensive end Michael Fletcher as an undrafted free agent. Today we break Fletcher down in detail.
The 24-year old Fletcher is listed at 6’6” and 275 pounds. He racked up 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons after having transferred from Michigan State.
Background
Fletcher was a four-star high school recruit and the top defensive end recruit in the state of Michigan, so he headed to Michigan State with some legitimate hype.
As a true freshman, he only saw brief action in one game before taking a redshirt, but he showed real promise in 2020 as he was credited with three sacks in just seven games.
As he looked to build on that season, 2021 was a disappointing year for Fletcher, as he had just six tackles in six games.
2022 saw him finally get a chance as he started three games but he was banged up all year and ended up with just 13 tackles and a tackle for loss in eight games. At the end of the season, he opted to transfer to Appalachian State.
Although he was coming off the bench, Fletcher got regular rotational work in 2023 and had career highs in tackles (21) and sacks (4.5). In 2024, he started eight of 10 games and had similar production with 19 tackles and four sacks.
Fletcher was not expected to be drafted after having been an NFL scouting combine snub and not invited to any of the main all-star games.
After Fletcher went undrafted, the Jets invited him to attend their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, after which they signed him to an undrafted free agency deal with no guaranteed money.
Let’s move on to some more in-depth analysis of what Fletcher brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Fletcher was 240 pounds coming out of high school, but has bulked up nicely. He also has an impressive 84-inch wingspan.
At his pro day, he weighed in at 288 and ran 4.93 in the 40-yard dash. His explosiveness and strength numbers were solid, but his agility numbers were poor.
Usage
Fletcher lined up exclusively outside with Michigan State, but Appalachian State primarily lined him up across from a tackle as a 5-technique. He also occasionally lined up inside.
Motor
Interestingly, Fletcher only played more than 40 snaps once in two seasons with the Mountaineers. He did play 52 in one game with Michigan State, but doesn’t have much experience of handling a starter’s workload. He does give effort in the trenches and in pursuit though.
Pass rush
Fletcher posted pretty good pass rush numbers at Appalachian State, but his numbers at Michigan State were underwhelming. That’s concerning both in terms of him only succeeding against weaker level competition and only seeing an increase in his age 23 and 24 seasons.
It is worth noting, however, that he had three sacks as a redshirt freshman and these were against Ohio State (two) and Iowa.
Watching Fletcher rush the passer, he doesn’t seem to have quick twitch explosiveness but was still able to have some success in getting around his man.
What he lacks in athleticism, Fletcher makes up for with good awareness, hand work and strength.
This was an impressive rep showing his power. This could perhaps be more of a factor in speed-to-power rushes off the edge rather than conventional interior bull rushes, but could also be an asset on stunts.
Run defense
Fletcher has been a solid run defender, although he was overmatched at times while still with the Spartans. His strength can be an asset setting the edge against tight ends.
He has good discipline on the backside and showcases a good ability to rally to the ball and clean up.
On this play, he makes the right read to shoot into the backfield without exposing himself to being sealed off before he can disrupt the runner from getting to the edge.
Technique
As a pass rusher, Fletcher has the most success when he is able to keep his man’s hands off him. He brings some violence in terms of his first punch and hand strikes.
As noted, he’s not a fast-twitch player and therefore not really flashy or exciting. There’s almost a methodical approach to him taking on his blocker but he was able to make his man looked overmatched against lower level competition.
Special teams
Fletcher lacks experience on special teams, as he played just one snap as a blocker and the kick return unit and had limited playing time rushing kicks and punts. However, he did come up with one huge play, saving the game for them with this overtime field goal block.
Tackling
Fletcher hasn’t been a particularly productive tackler and his missed tackle rate at Michigan State was far too high at over 20 percent.
Encouragingly, though, he had just four missed tackles in two seasons with the Mountaineers, putting his missed tackle percentage for those two years below 10 percent.
He forced one fumble during his college career.
Coverage
Fletcher only dropped into coverage once or twice a season on average but was credited with three passes defensed in his career. Two of these were batted at the line.
On this play he drops off and is in position to disrupt the receiver coming across the middle, although the pass was deflected anyway.
He otherwise wasn’t directly targeted having dropped into coverage and probably wouldn’t be expected to do anything other than drop into a shallow zone in certain blitz packages at the pro level.
Instincts/Intelligence
Fletcher impresses in terms of his vision, play recognition and awareness. He didn’t seem to be fooled by misdirection and displayed good discipline in the run game.
Fletcher earned academic all-Big Ten honors on three separate occasions while at Michigan State.
He jumped offside twice in the same game in 2024.
Attitude/Demeanor
Fletcher is a high-energy player, who seems popular with his teammates and is regarded as a hard worker with good character. He did plenty of work in the community with the Mountaineers.
His on-field discipline wasn’t too bad, with four of his eight career penalties coming in 2024, including a personal foul for roughing the passer. However, he was ejected for targeting in a 2022 game, for a late hit on current Jet Braelon Allen.
Injuries
Fletcher only played in 22 games during his four seasons with Michigan State, although that wasn’t all due to injuries. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season and the decision to redshirt him in 2019 were also factors.
That 2019 season had been impacted by a foot injury and he was banged up in 2022 as he missed four games and was limited in others due to, among other things, an arm or shoulder issue.
Scheme Fit
Assuming the Jets are going to play mostly in four-man fronts this year, Fletcher fits best as a strong side defensive end who can mostly contribute on running downs. To crack the rotation, he’s probably also going to have to show he can produce as a situational rusher too, though.
Size-wise, his listed height and weight is basically the same as Eric Watts, who made the team and cracked the rotation as an undrafted rookie last year so a comparison here is warranted.
However, Fletcher was 13 pounds heavier than his current listed weight at his pro day which probably explains why his athletic numbers were inferior to those of Watts across the board. He’s therefore probably either going to have to cut weight to try and improve his speed and explosiveness, or bulk up and try to make it as an undersized interior option.
Conclusions
Players who aren’t initially signed as undrafted free agents but then make the team having attended on a tryout basis are always worth keeping an eye on because they obviously did something that made them stand out against the other rookies on the team. At the same time, Fletcher has no guaranteed money, so he will really need to impress the Jets if they are to retain him over another option who may be getting six figures from them whether they make the team or not.
Fletcher is a bit of a tweener, who might ultimately need to decide whether his future is as an edge defender or if he would be better off bulking up to play inside. The fact that the Jets list him as a defensive end and at 275 might be telling as to their initial plans for him, but things can change depending on how he develops.