On Sunday, the Jets added depth to their defensive line.
Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi has agreed to terms with the Jets, according to his agency SportsTrust Advisors. Details of Nnadi’s contract were not disclosed.
Prior to this point, Nnadi, 28, has spent his entire career with the Chiefs after being selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In seven seasons, he started 86 regular-season games and played in three Super Bowls in Kansas City.
However, after being a starter for the first six seasons with the Chiefs, Nnadi moved into a reserve rotational role last season. He tallied a career-low mark with 215 defensive snaps and 11 tackles. Nnadi has registered 233 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble during his career.
The Jets have been looking for defensive tackle help alongside Quinnen Williams. Last year, they added Javon Kinlaw, hoping he would provide a solution, but his play was erratic. However, his play was erratic, and Kinlaw committed nine penalties, many of which came at inopportune times.
Kinlaw recently signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Commanders. So, adding a veteran like Nnadi should prove to be beneficial for a team that finished third in defensive yards allowed (313.8).
However, the Jets’ defense was inconsistent after Robert Saleh’s firing following a 2-3 start. Under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets were 28th in points (26.6) and 18th in yards allowed per game (337.9). That changed from the first five games with Saleh, when the Jets were fifth in points (17) and second in yards per game (255.8).
The Jets have also had trouble stopping opponents’ ground game after finishing 17th overall (121.1). Nnadi’s 6-1, 317-pound frame should help in that area. He will compete with Byron Cowart, who recently agreed to terms with the Jets. They have added former Bengals defensive tackle Jay Tufele.