The New York Jets have had a history, albeit sporadic, of talented defensive ends. Who are the franchise’s 5 best?
Though winning only one world championship, the New York Jets have had a history rich with talented players. Some have been colorful, some have been stout members of the team for many years, but they all were memorable players. Jets’ has been given quite the ride since the New York Titans entered the league in 1960.
Over the last several days, we have talked about the best skilled position players on the offensive side of the ball. We have looked at the five best quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers. Now we turn to the defensive side of things.
One of the team’s current best players is defensive end Sheldon Richardson (above). Posting 16.5 sacks over his first three seasons, despite his 2015 suspension, and his on his way to a fine career. But, he isn’t ready for this list yet.
So, who is? Let’s take a look:
5. Muhammad Wilkerson
Every Jets’ fan knows, and loves our number five choice. Wilkerson joined the team as a first round selection in 2011, and has never left the starting lineup. He posted 49 tackles (35 solo) and three sacks in that first year, and hasn’t looked back since. In his five years with the team, he has posted 36.5 sacks, averaging 7.3 per season. In 2013, Wilkerson was arguably the best defensive end in the league not named J.J. Watt.
Wilkerson has recently signed the non-exclusive franchise tag, putting his salary at $15.7 million if he were to play out the year on the tag. The Jets would like to work out a long-term deal, but are also interested in a tag and trade if they can find a suitor. Whether or not that is a possibility remains to be seen, but either way, he remains at fifth on the franchise’s all-time list.
4. Jeff Lageman
When he was drafted in the first round of the 1989 draft, Lageman was not a pick loved by Jets’ fans or experts, but in his defense, his six years with the team weren’t bad. Starting 15 games as a rookie, Lageman posted 4.5 sacks and 72 tackles. 1991 was his breakout season, with ten sacks to go along with 68 tackles. From 1993-1994, Lageman was again strong as a pass rusher of those two seasons. For his career with the Jets, he averaged over five sacks per season.
His 34.5 sacks as a member of the Jets ranks him ninth overall, and seventh among defensive ends. With players like Steve Atwater, Daryl Johnston and Mark Stepnoski all selected later in the draft, Lageman is looked back on as not a highly regarded choice. In hindsight, it wasn’t bad. They chose the fourth best defensive end in team history.
3. John Abraham
A few years after Lageman had gone on to Jacksonville, along came their third best defensive end in team history. John Abraham was selected in the first round of the 2000 draft. After a 4.5 sack performance, his career took off. In 2001, Abraham posted 13 sacks, good for sixth in the league. He banked two more seasons of 10+ sacks, and one season of 9.5 sacks.
In the 2002 playoffs, he added a sack to the Jets’ 41-0 thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card game. Over his six-year career with the team, he averaged nearly nine sacks per season, and is ranked third in team history with 53.5 sacks.
They may have executed a tag and trade with the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 2006 season, giving him the chance to post 68 sacks in seven years there, but that doesn’t take his New York accomplishments away. He was an easy choice for number three.
2. Shaun Ellis
In the same draft as John Abraham came our number two choice. Shaun Ellis was also chosen in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft, and he went on to start 156 out of 170 career games in the Green and White. Starting only three games in 2000, Ellis posted 8.5 sacks. His best years came from 2003-2004, when he posted 23.5 sacks, an average of 11.75 sacks each season.
One of the longest lasting memories that Ellis provided for Jets’ fans came in the 2010 divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots. That night, he posted two sacks and five tackles, helping his team to a 28-21 upset win over their rivals. Over 11 years with the team, Ellis posted 552 tackles to go along with 72.5 sacks.
He was strong, he was durable, and he was a player that the Jets could count on for quality play each and every week.
1. Mark Gastineau
Our number one choice set the bar for sack experts when the stat was introduced. Gastineau was chosen in the second round of the 1979 draft, and brought a brash style that hadn’t been seen in the Green and White since Joe Namath roamed the backfield. His membership in the “New York Sack Exchange” created a pass rush that has been unequaled. In 1981, they posted 66 sacks (though unofficial until the stat was official in 1982), and Gastineau posted 20 of them.
In 1983, Gastineau came into his own, leading the league with 19 sacks, and following that up with 22 in 1984, the record at the time, and earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors. After an injury plagued 1986 season, he returned for the playoffs, but is unfortunately remembered for a roughing the passer penalty called when he hit Bernie Kosar on a third and long in the fourth quarter with the Jets up by ten. For our younger readers, the Jets went on to lose the game in double overtime.
Mark was also the guy who started the celebrations after a sack, otherwise known as the “Sack Dance”. He also was well-known for the memorable end to his career. After a rebound performance of seven sacks through seven games of the 1988 season, he announced his retirement, effective immediately, to be with his then fiancé Brigitte Nielsen. At the time of his retirement, he was the NFL’s all-time sack leader.
His official sack total is 74, but if you include the time prior to the stat becoming official, it grows to 107.5, making him the clear number one choice.
http://nflspinzone.com/2016/03/04/five-best-defensive-ends-new-york-jets-history/6/
Though winning only one world championship, the New York Jets have had a history rich with talented players. Some have been colorful, some have been stout members of the team for many years, but they all were memorable players. Jets’ has been given quite the ride since the New York Titans entered the league in 1960.
Over the last several days, we have talked about the best skilled position players on the offensive side of the ball. We have looked at the five best quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers. Now we turn to the defensive side of things.
One of the team’s current best players is defensive end Sheldon Richardson (above). Posting 16.5 sacks over his first three seasons, despite his 2015 suspension, and his on his way to a fine career. But, he isn’t ready for this list yet.
So, who is? Let’s take a look:
5. Muhammad Wilkerson
Every Jets’ fan knows, and loves our number five choice. Wilkerson joined the team as a first round selection in 2011, and has never left the starting lineup. He posted 49 tackles (35 solo) and three sacks in that first year, and hasn’t looked back since. In his five years with the team, he has posted 36.5 sacks, averaging 7.3 per season. In 2013, Wilkerson was arguably the best defensive end in the league not named J.J. Watt.
Wilkerson has recently signed the non-exclusive franchise tag, putting his salary at $15.7 million if he were to play out the year on the tag. The Jets would like to work out a long-term deal, but are also interested in a tag and trade if they can find a suitor. Whether or not that is a possibility remains to be seen, but either way, he remains at fifth on the franchise’s all-time list.
4. Jeff Lageman
When he was drafted in the first round of the 1989 draft, Lageman was not a pick loved by Jets’ fans or experts, but in his defense, his six years with the team weren’t bad. Starting 15 games as a rookie, Lageman posted 4.5 sacks and 72 tackles. 1991 was his breakout season, with ten sacks to go along with 68 tackles. From 1993-1994, Lageman was again strong as a pass rusher of those two seasons. For his career with the Jets, he averaged over five sacks per season.
His 34.5 sacks as a member of the Jets ranks him ninth overall, and seventh among defensive ends. With players like Steve Atwater, Daryl Johnston and Mark Stepnoski all selected later in the draft, Lageman is looked back on as not a highly regarded choice. In hindsight, it wasn’t bad. They chose the fourth best defensive end in team history.
3. John Abraham
A few years after Lageman had gone on to Jacksonville, along came their third best defensive end in team history. John Abraham was selected in the first round of the 2000 draft. After a 4.5 sack performance, his career took off. In 2001, Abraham posted 13 sacks, good for sixth in the league. He banked two more seasons of 10+ sacks, and one season of 9.5 sacks.
In the 2002 playoffs, he added a sack to the Jets’ 41-0 thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card game. Over his six-year career with the team, he averaged nearly nine sacks per season, and is ranked third in team history with 53.5 sacks.
They may have executed a tag and trade with the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 2006 season, giving him the chance to post 68 sacks in seven years there, but that doesn’t take his New York accomplishments away. He was an easy choice for number three.
2. Shaun Ellis
In the same draft as John Abraham came our number two choice. Shaun Ellis was also chosen in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft, and he went on to start 156 out of 170 career games in the Green and White. Starting only three games in 2000, Ellis posted 8.5 sacks. His best years came from 2003-2004, when he posted 23.5 sacks, an average of 11.75 sacks each season.
One of the longest lasting memories that Ellis provided for Jets’ fans came in the 2010 divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots. That night, he posted two sacks and five tackles, helping his team to a 28-21 upset win over their rivals. Over 11 years with the team, Ellis posted 552 tackles to go along with 72.5 sacks.
He was strong, he was durable, and he was a player that the Jets could count on for quality play each and every week.
1. Mark Gastineau
Our number one choice set the bar for sack experts when the stat was introduced. Gastineau was chosen in the second round of the 1979 draft, and brought a brash style that hadn’t been seen in the Green and White since Joe Namath roamed the backfield. His membership in the “New York Sack Exchange” created a pass rush that has been unequaled. In 1981, they posted 66 sacks (though unofficial until the stat was official in 1982), and Gastineau posted 20 of them.
In 1983, Gastineau came into his own, leading the league with 19 sacks, and following that up with 22 in 1984, the record at the time, and earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors. After an injury plagued 1986 season, he returned for the playoffs, but is unfortunately remembered for a roughing the passer penalty called when he hit Bernie Kosar on a third and long in the fourth quarter with the Jets up by ten. For our younger readers, the Jets went on to lose the game in double overtime.
Mark was also the guy who started the celebrations after a sack, otherwise known as the “Sack Dance”. He also was well-known for the memorable end to his career. After a rebound performance of seven sacks through seven games of the 1988 season, he announced his retirement, effective immediately, to be with his then fiancé Brigitte Nielsen. At the time of his retirement, he was the NFL’s all-time sack leader.
His official sack total is 74, but if you include the time prior to the stat becoming official, it grows to 107.5, making him the clear number one choice.
http://nflspinzone.com/2016/03/04/five-best-defensive-ends-new-york-jets-history/6/
