Darron Lee is the linebacker Todd Bowles wanted

There’s no secret about how the New York Jets are trying to win football games. After posting the fourth-best defense in the NFL last season, New York dedicated three of its first four draft picks in 2016 to the defensive side of the ball. Not only did the Jets go for quantity, but they also received quality. There are a lot of question marks surrounding New York first rounder Darron Lee, but the Jets addressed the correct position early and coach Todd Bowles got the exact kind of linebacker he wanted to play in the middle of his defense. Selecting a defensive player in the first round is nothing new for the Jets, as they have picked a defender in the first round each of the last seven NFL drafts, including 2016. But prior to this season, New York had yet to make that first pick a linebacker. As previously mentioned, New York had an elite defense a year ago, though, the unit aged somewhat overnight, particularly at linebacker, and in many ways the one missing ingredient to the Jets defense was a dominant edge rusher. By no means was New York a shabby pass rushing team — they finished tied for 12th in the league with 39.0 sacks — but if the Jets could record 5-6 more sacks this season, they would be ranked among the top five in sacks and truly dominate defensively. All indications point to Lee being that missing ingredient. He posted 12.0 sacks in two years starting at Ohio State, and Pro Football Focus called him one of the best blitzers in this rookie class. …

Continue Reading: Darron Lee is the linebacker Todd Bowles wanted