There has been competition in training camp for the Jets‘ defensive tackle spot opposite Quinnen Williams.
Although coaches have said they’ve been impressed with the competition, the Jets made a trade with the Browns to add a former 2024 draft pick.
Gang Green announced on Wednesday that it has acquired defensive tackle Jowon Briggs and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft from Cleveland in exchange for the team’s sixth-round pick in the same draft.
The Browns initially selected Briggs in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. He appeared in six games last year in a backup role for Cleveland. Briggs registered 13 tackles and one tackle for loss in limited action.
The 6-1, 313-pound Briggs registered 170 tackles and 12 sacks during his five college seasons between his two seasons at Virginia and his three at Cincinnati. Briggs is a short and stocky interior defender who has short arms, but can be a contributor to the Jets’ rushing defense. He possesses sufficient quickness to bring down ballcarriers and should provide adequate play in rotational situations.
The Jets are thin at the defensive tackle position. So the trade to add Briggs makes a lot of sense. They have been looking for a long-term solution besides Williams, but no one has stood out so far. In addition to Williams, the Jets’ defensive tackle room consists of Payton Page, Jay Tufele, Leonard Taylor III, and Derrick Nnadi.
Byron Cowart, another player on the defensive line, had the best training camp out of the players who are vying for the starting defensive tackle spot. But he is dealing with an ankle injury and has missed the last few weeks of training camp practices after suffering the injury on Aug. 5.
The trade for Briggs could indicate Cowart’s injury is more serious than the Jets initially thought.
“I think it is going great,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said about the defensive tackle competition opposite Williams. “Jay Tufele has stepped up. He had a great game two weeks ago against Green Bay. You look at Leonard Taylor, he is doing some great things [Phidarian Mathis] Phil, I love what he’s doing.
“And I’m looking to get BC back into the fold, Byron Cowart. I thought those guys are doing a great job. We are looking for that balance opposite Q [Williams]. Some man that’s going to be able to demand double teams as well, so we can take some pressure off of him.”
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