ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that linebacker Jamien Sherwood is returning to the New York Jets on a three-year deal worth $45 million, with $30 million fully guaranteed. New York selected Sherwood in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has logged 17 games in each of the prior three seasons with the team. The Auburn product broke out in 2024, racking up 158 total tackles -- leading the team -- after not having eclipsed more than 35 from 2021-23. Additionally, the 25-year-old notched the second-most snaps of all Jets linebackers (1,065) behind Quincy Williams. New York's defense was hit-or-miss after the firing of former head coach Robert Saleh in 2024 but finished the year with the fifth-fewest yards per game allowed (313.8). However, they ranked in the league's bottom half in terms of PPG let up with 23.8. It's a step in the right direction for the Jets' defense, but they still have some tweaking to do ahead of the 2025 season.
Jets, Jamien Sherwood Have Mutual Interest In A New Deal
The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reports that there is mutual interest between the New York Jets and linebacker Jamien Sherwood on getting a new deal done, potentially before Sherwood even hits free agency. Sherwood had a breakout season in 2024 in his first year as a full-time starter while filling in for the injured C.J. Mosley, recording 158 tackles (league-leading 98 solo), two sacks, 10 tackles for loss and three pass breakups in 17 games (16 starts) in his fourth year in the NFL. If the 25-year-old former fifth-rounder reaches free agency, he's likely to be coveted by at least the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers due to connections with former coaches Jeff Ulbrich and Robert Saleh. The expectation is that Sherwood will command a deal in the range of three years and $8-10 million per season. It could cause an interesting dynamic with fellow linebacker Quincy Williams, who has outplayed the three-year, $18 million deal he signed in 2023.
Jamien Sherwood Viewed As Favorite To Start At Strongside Linebacker
Until/if the New York Jets bring back free-agent linebacker Kwon Alexander, Jamien Sherwood should be viewed as the favorite to replace Alexander in the lineup as the starting strongside linebacker next to C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams. The 23-year-old fifth-round pick in 2021 only played 25 defensive snaps last year, and 15 of them came in the last two games of the season. Rookie sixth-rounder Zaire Barnes would have to impress in training camp to have a shot at the job, while Hamsah Nasirildeen is more of a special teams contributor. Sherwood has just 31 tackles (20 solo) and half a sack in his two NFL seasons to this point.
New York Jets rookie linebacker Jamien Sherwood (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles in the Week 7 loss to the New England Patriots and will miss the rest of the season, according to a source. The Jets were already short-handed on Sunday with Jarrad Davis (ankle) and C.J. Mosley (hamstring) out, and Sherwood had been a major contributor for the team, totaling 14 tackles (eight solo) in his five games played (four starts). The fifth-rounder played a season-high 68% of the defensive snaps on Sunday before going down with injury. The Jets defense/special teams was already a unit to avoid at all costs in fantasy, and the injuries to their linebacking corps makes them an even better matchup for opposing offenses moving forward. They'll get the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.
Jamien Sherwood
• LB
•
Jets
