Why this stellar Jets defender will likely leave in free agency

In a dreadful season for the New York Jets, defensive end Bryce Huff has emerged as one of the team's few bright spots. The 2020 undrafted free agent is second in the NFL in pressure rate among players with at least 250 pass rushes, per Next Gen Stats, and leads the team with eight sacks.

With stats such as these, Huff can expect a massive payday when he hits the free-agent market this offseason. Whether that money comes from the Jets, though, remains to be seen.

Despite Huff's strong impact, he has only played 42% percent of the defensive snaps this season. Head coach Robert Saleh believes in consistently rotating the defensive line to keep fresh legs on the field. This means less playing time for many of his star players, including Huff, DT Quinnen Williams and DE Jermaine Johnson.

Giving a monster contract to Huff, who has played less than 50% of defensive snaps, doesn't seem like the best use of money in an offseason in which the Jets will need to fill holes at wide receiver and on the offensive line.

Though Huff has consistently proved worthy of more defensive snaps, Saleh is unlikely to mess with a successful scheme that's made New York's defense one of the best in the NFL. This may lead the 25-year-old to look for a fresh start on a team that will give him more money and consistent playing time.

While Saleh and GM Joe Douglas would certainly love to re-sign Huff, bringing him back may cause another issue.

The Jets used their 2023 first-round pick on edge-rusher Will McDonald IV, who has hardly played this season (167 snaps). The 24-year-old probably will become the first Jets first-round pick since Vernon Gholston in 2008 to play under 200 snaps as a rookie, per ESPN.

If Huff returns and McDonald continues to ride the bench next season, Douglas' already questionable pick would come under more scrutiny. Wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle), Zay Flowers (Baltimore) and Jordan Addison (Minnesota) were drafted after the Jets selected 15th overall, and each player could've filled a major need for New York.

The negotiation process for a long-term deal will likely be long and strenuous for Huff. However, the star DE is confident he'll get what he deserves.

"I feel like my film speaks for itself. I’ve done really well against great players in the league. I’ve put a lot of good stuff on film," Huff said, per the New York Post. "I’m not really worried about the negotiations. I feel like I have a lot of bullets in the chamber, so to speak, when it comes to proving myself."