• Fri. Feb 14th, 2025

5 Detroit Lions free agents that might join Aaron Glenn on the New York Jets

ByGbemiro Timmy

Jan 25, 2025

Aaron Glenn has truly positioned himself as a strong head coaching candidate this season, and following weeks of speculation, he is now officially the new head coach of the New York Jets.

The Detroit Lions are looking for a new defensive coordinator, a role that head coach Dan Campbell anticipated he would need to fill. Several assistant coaches from the Lions may follow Glenn to New York, and when considering free agency, some players might join them as well.

Sources indicate that Glenn is looking for a seasoned defensive coordinator, with Steve Wilks being the name most frequently referenced since Glenn took on the role of head coach for the Jets. Yet, the main defensive approach for the Jets is likely to bear Glenn’s influence, meaning (if he brings his strategies from Detroit) they will frequently blitz and utilize a significant amount of man coverage.

It appears that the Jets possess a few defensive players who align perfectly with Glenn’s defensive style. However, he will definitely seek players who are already accustomed to his scheme/philosophy and, of course, align with it effectively. When it comes down to it, some impending Lions’ free agents who developed a bond with Glenn during his four years in Detroit might be open to joining him in New York.

Here are five Lions free agents set to potentially join Glenn in New York.

5 Lions 2025 free agents likely to join Aaron Glenn with the Jets

5. Defensive End Marcus Davenport

Last offseason, the Lions signed Davenport for a one-year deal, and despite this season’s injury being somewhat unexpected (an arm/elbow issue caused by Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson striking his arm in Week 3), the clear truth is he struggles to remain healthy (only six games played in the past two seasons). He has only three sacks in his past 21 games played, causing the promise he previously displayed as a former first-round selection to quickly diminish.

Thus, Davenport will be moving on to his fourth team in four seasons by 2025. The question is where that will be, as it seems he has limited choices.

 

Glenn was part of the New Orleans Saints’ coaching team when they selected him 14th overall in the 2018 draft. When it comes to affordable, low-risk choices to enhance their pass rush, the Jets couldn’t find a better option than Davenport.

 

 4. DL John Cominsky

Cominsky sat out the whole 2024 season due to a torn MCL in his right knee sustained early in training camp. During the last two seasons with the Lions, he recorded 66 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, and 20 quarterback hits, proving to be a valuable and adaptable defensive line asset.

Cominsky discovered a place in Detroit after being claimed off waivers in 2022. Due to this season’s injury, it seems improbable that he will be re-signed this offseason, but returning to New York with Glenn is certainly a possibility as the Jets work on reassembling their defense.

 

3. LB Derrick Barnes 

 

Barnes’ 2024 season concluded prematurely (Week 3) because of a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee after sustaining a hit from a low block. His ACL was untouched, so it appeared there was a slight possibility he might have come back before the season concluded. However, that was settled before the regular season ended, and the Lions’ playoff journey didn’t extend long enough either.

 

In recent seasons, Barnes has completely evolved into an excellent all-around off-ball linebacker within Glenn’s defensive system. Beyond any worries that may remain regarding his injury recovery by March, the Lions possess solid depth at linebacker and might allow him to test the free agency market without anxiety about failing to find a replacement.

Barnes was a college defensive end who completely shifted to linebacker upon entering the NFL. That adaptability is a quality Glenn would appreciate, in addition to being well acquainted with him. The Jets’ revamped defensive strategy (presuming a duplication of Glenn’s approach in Detroit) would necessitate more conventionally-sized linebackers, rather than a player like Jamien Sherwood, who excelled in the earlier system this season but is a transitioned safety (216 pounds).

 

2. Levi Onwuzurike, Defensive Lineman

 

Onwuzurike was completely healthy this season, and it was evident. His conventional surface statistics may not impress you (28 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss), but he recorded 13 pressures on quarterbacks (according to Pro Football Reference), and Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-25 defensive tackle in the league. According to PFF, his 12.5 percent pass-rush win rate ranked among the top 15 for defensive tackles.

Onwuzurike has shown promise whenever he’s been fit during his initial four years in the league, having been selected one round before the recently extended interior defender Alim McNeill in 2021. The ex-second-round selection from Washington is the dominating three-technique interior pass-rusher that every franchise desires, having posted a 12.5% pass-rush win rate in 2024, which stands among the top-15 figures for his position.

 

-Professional Football Analysis

 

A single completely healthy season, no matter how impressive, won’t enable Onwuzurike to maximize his earnings in free agency (PFF forecasts a two-year, $16.5 million contract with $10 million guaranteed). However, it is quite probable that he has exhausted his options within the price range the Lions can realistically offer for his re-signing, which makes the Jets (and Glenn) a convenient fit.

 

1. CB Carlton Davis

Davis demonstrated that he was precisely what the Lions required from a seasoned cornerback this season, showcasing his abilities (77.0 passer rating allowed, 11 pass breakups) along with his confidence. He also ended the season on the bench due to a broken jaw, extending a streak of seasons during which he has been injured dating back to his stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has been absent from at least four games in each of the past four seasons, and worries about durability persist as players get older.

 

During his season-ending press conference on Thursday, Lions general manager Brad Holmes recognized Davis’ excellent performance this season, noting that there have not been any contract discussions at this preliminary stage.

 

“I believed he played exceptionally well.” To be truthful, I believe he performed better this year compared to last year, the year he spent in Tampa, and he would agree with that as well,” Holmes stated. “While there hasn’t been any intense action yet, we are quite attentive to it and we will follow our usual procedure.”

 

The Jets clearly have Sauce Gardner established as their leading cornerback. However, running mate D.J. Reed is a free agent, and he appears to be prepared to make a change.

 

“I’m prepared to enter free agency, dude.” “I’m prepared to discover what lies ahead for me,” Reed stated to Tyler Dunne during The Go Long podcast towards the end of the season.

Davis appears to be an ideal substitute for Reed if the Jets need to make that choice, perhaps overly obvious, because of his connection to Glenn and understanding of the new defensive system. The Lions must weigh Davis’ age (28) against the duration and financial commitment they are willing to make, complicating matters as he is expected to attract several interested teams.

 

Davis might wish to remain in Detroit. However, the attraction of Glenn to the Jets, if they are indeed interested, appears to be quite significant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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