The Jets needed help rushing the passer, and Florida defensive Jabari Zuniga should deliver that to Gregg Williams’ defense from the edge.
The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Zuniga had three sacks in 2019 after missing all but five games due to an ankle injury. For his career, he tallied 18.5 sacks, 116 combined tackles and 33 tackles for a loss. He’s fast off the snap and can get the jump on a lineman before pouncing on the quarterback.
Zuniga is a great addition to the Jets’ defensive front because he can line up all over the line like the rest of the members of that unit. Though he typically lined up as a defensive end for the Gators, he can play in B-gap packages between the offensive guards and tackles and also outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme. Gregg Williams should have a lot of fun shifting around Zuniga, 2019 first-round pick Quinnen Williams and the rest of the defensive line to confuse opposing offensive lineman.
The issue with Zuniga is his aggressiveness when engaged with blockers. He also appears predictable with his rushes at times. His usage might be capped early on with the Jets, especially considering the depth in front of him.
Expect Zuniga to play sparingly to start for the Jets but see time in certain sub-packages where he’ll easily win matchups. He’s incredibly athletic and productive, so the potential and opportunity is certainly there for Zuniga to excel for the Jets.
