According to cornerback DJ Reed, the New York Jets’ defense this season could soon rank among the best in NFL history. This unit could be “historically” good.
In a Zoom conference with reporters on Monday, Reed (26) was extremely confident and said: “I’m very confident. I think we have the potential to be the best defense in the NFL.”
But that’s not all: “Honestly I think we can be good historically, not only can we be the best defense in the league, but we can also be a historically good defense like the 85-86 Bears or Seattle’s Legion of Boom in 2013 be. I think we can be so dominant when all things come together.”
The 1985 Bears and the 2013 Seahawks each won the Super Bowl and are considered two of the best defenses the NFL has ever seen. In this respect, Reed’s statement is at least a daring thesis.
Last year, the Jets had the fourth-best defense by points allowed and fourth-best defense by yards. Eight of last year’s starters are back this season. In addition, Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, who made it straight to the All-Pro team and is already considered one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the NFL, is entering his second season.
NFL: New York Jets were last in the playoffs in 2010
Teammate and edge rusher John Franklin-Myers agreed with Reed: “Damn, why not be upfront about your goals? We’re not sitting here afraid to go out and say we’re going to win the Super Bowl or want to be the best defense in the NFL.”
In order to achieve the ambitious goals, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was brought in from the Green Bay Packers this summer. And while defense was the team’s showpiece in 2022, it’s ultimately going to be down to offense if this Jets season is to be hugely successful. The team last made the playoffs in 2010, winning the Super Bowl only once after the 1968 season.