Jets’ pre-cut down move could be just what the doctor ordered to further unlock several of New York’s defensive stars in 2025

The first of New York's trades today brought Jowon Briggs from the Cleveland Browns. Briggs, a 2024 seventh-round draft choice by Cleveland, was paired with a 2026 seventh-round pick and in return the Jets sent a 2026 sixth-round draft choice to Cleveland. Briggs, who started his college career at Virginia, started 25 games in his final two years at University of Cincinnati.

The youth is welcome. But experience, particularly in the elements that Harrison Phillips excels at, should be considered a big win for the Jets.

New York's double dip at defensive tackle brings the Jets a 96-game NFL veteran who has started every game in each of the last three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings . Phillips is not a pass rusher. But opposite Quinnen Williams, he won't need to be. Instead, he's a stout point of attack defender who offers both A & B gap alignment ability on early downs. New York's current depth chart was sorely missing a body type and skillset like Phillips' to platoon on the interior.

New York is sending two sixth-round draft choices to Minnesota, one in each of the next two NFL Drafts, to Minnesota for Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round draft choice. With the NFL's cut down date looming after this weekend's preseason games, New York can rest easy knowing they've gotten a jump on the sprint to shuffle assets and get aligned to plug a few holes. Jets fans shouldn't expect a star player in Harrison Phillips, but they should expect a significantly better effort inside to hold the point — which should allow their explosive, dynamic duo at linebacker to fly around a little cleaner than they would have been able to otherwise.