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The revamped New York Jets defensive line has Jay Tufele and Byron Cowart now in the fold.
During the first wave of the NFL 2025 free agency frenzy, both tackles signed in New York. The team has announced the addition of former Cincinnati Bengals defender Jay Tufele and ex Chicago Bears lineman Byron Coward.
Cowart signed on the dotted line first via a one-year deal. The terms of Tufele's deal have yet to be announced.
Cowart was a fifth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2019 but has bounced around the NFL. The Jets will be his seventh team.
After spending three years with the Pats, Coward ended up on the regular season rosters of the Indianapolis Colts (2022) and Chicago Bears (2004).
Coward was only a regular starter for one season with the Patriots in 2020. He started all 14 games he appeared in that season, recording a sack, a pass defended, 27 tackles including three for loss.
Cowart was in a rotational role with the Bears in 2025 but did muster a career-high 2.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked the 28-year-old the 86th best defensive tackle in the league last season out of 219 qualifying players via a 58.9 overall grade.
With the Bengals in 2024, Tufele played 13 games, with three starts. That was the most action he's seen in a singe season in the NFL. Tufele had 0.5 sacks, a pass defended, 15 tackles along with one for loss last season. PFF handed him a tough 44.4 grade for his efforts.
In 34 career games, the 25-year-old has made five starts. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL draft. In 2022, Tufele signed with the Bengals in 2022.
The front office in New York has rebuilt the defensive tackle position this offseason. Derrick Nnadi is another tackle the team has signed during free agency.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 offseason.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jay Tufele, Byron Cowart among more names added to Jets defensive line
Continue reading...
During the first wave of the NFL 2025 free agency frenzy, both tackles signed in New York. The team has announced the addition of former Cincinnati Bengals defender Jay Tufele and ex Chicago Bears lineman Byron Coward.
Cowart signed on the dotted line first via a one-year deal. The terms of Tufele's deal have yet to be announced.
Cowart was a fifth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2019 but has bounced around the NFL. The Jets will be his seventh team.
After spending three years with the Pats, Coward ended up on the regular season rosters of the Indianapolis Colts (2022) and Chicago Bears (2004).
Coward was only a regular starter for one season with the Patriots in 2020. He started all 14 games he appeared in that season, recording a sack, a pass defended, 27 tackles including three for loss.
Cowart was in a rotational role with the Bears in 2025 but did muster a career-high 2.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked the 28-year-old the 86th best defensive tackle in the league last season out of 219 qualifying players via a 58.9 overall grade.
With the Bengals in 2024, Tufele played 13 games, with three starts. That was the most action he's seen in a singe season in the NFL. Tufele had 0.5 sacks, a pass defended, 15 tackles along with one for loss last season. PFF handed him a tough 44.4 grade for his efforts.
In 34 career games, the 25-year-old has made five starts. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL draft. In 2022, Tufele signed with the Bengals in 2022.
The front office in New York has rebuilt the defensive tackle position this offseason. Derrick Nnadi is another tackle the team has signed during free agency.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 offseason.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jay Tufele, Byron Cowart among more names added to Jets defensive line
Continue reading...
