Jets meet with DT Larry Ogunjobi

Larry Ogunjobi had a deal in place with the Bears early this offseason, but his January injury led to it falling through. The former Browns and Bengals defensive tackle has since spent the past several weeks back in free agency.

The Jets have surfaced as a suitor, hosting the veteran D-lineman on a visit over the past two days, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Ogunjobi played last season on a one-year, $6.2M deal, being one of many vets to ink 2021-only pacts after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a steep salary cap reduction. The strategy was on the cusp of paying off, with the longtime Browns starter playing a key role in the Bengals’ surprise playoff run. The Bears were prepared to give Ogunjobi a three-year, $40.5M deal — one that included $26.35M guaranteed — but his physical ended up nixing the agreement.

Robert Saleh’s first Jets defense ranked last in both points and yards allowed, but the team has been busy bolstering it this offseason. Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson arrived in the first round of the draft, joining the likes of D.J. Reed, Jordan Whitehead and Solomon Thomas. If healthy, Ogunjobi would obviously provide a boost to the team’s Quinnen Williams-fronted D-tackle group.