The Jets are showing interest in a trio of pending free agent pass rushers — Preston Smith, Dante Fowler Jr. and Ezekiel Ansah — according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
The market for pass rushers is expected to be deep, but that will change once DeMarcus Lawrence, Frank Clark, Jadeveon Clowney and Dee Ford all get franchise-tagged or sign big deals with their incumbent teams. So, the Jets are considering some alternatives.
Smith is a former second-round pick of the Washington Redskins. He only had four sacks last season, but he has 24.5 for his career. Smith might be a cheaper option than the other two names mentioned, plus he has a chance to revitalize his career in a new defensive scheme.
Fowler has been linked to the Jets for over two seasons now. It’s no secret that the Jets front office is interested in him. They came rather close to pulling the trigger on him at the trade deadline but thought better to keep their draft capital.
Fowler is just 24, but his talent never matched his production in Jacksonville. He did, however, help the Rams reach the Super Bowl once he was traded. With New York having the second-most cap space in the NFL, Mike Maccagnan could make Fowler a serious offer.
Ansah is easily the most established veteran name on the market. He’s spent his entire career in Detroit, but both parties seem ready to move in opposite directions.
Production has never been an issue for Ansah, but his age and health will be determining factors. It is expected that the Jets will be interested, but they may prioritize younger options at the position.
There are other options besides those three, of course. Trey Flowers, Markus Golden, Vinny Curry and Za’Darius Smith should all be intriguing options for the Jets.
