Jets Fill DL Opening with an Old Friend of Vikings
Dustin Baker
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The New York Jets have large expectations for 2024 — it was the same arrangement at this time last year, too — welcoming back Aaron Rodgers after an Achilles tear shortened his 2023 debut in the AFC.
Jets Fill DL Opening with an Old Friend of Vikings
And New York continued 2024 roster construction on Tuesday, re-upping with a former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman, Jalyn Holmes.
The Jet Press tweeted, “The Jets have re-signed DE/DT Jalyn Holmes, per the wire. Holmes appeared in 5 games for the Jets last season, recording 1 sack and 5 tackles. Former 4th round pick who spent most of the season shuffling between the practice squad and the active roster.”
Holmes played 81 defensive snaps as a Jet in 2023. Here’s his NFL resume to date:
- Minnesota Vikings (2018–2020)
- New Orleans Saints (2021)
- New York Giants (2022)
- Chicago Bears (2022)
- New York Jets (2023)
These are the Jets’ defensive tackles after the Holmes addition:
- Quinnen Williams
- Javon Kinlaw
- Leki Fotu
- Solomon Thomas
- Bruce Hector
- Tanzel Smart
- Manny Jones
- Marquiss Spencer
- Jalyn Holmes
So, he’ll face an uphill battle to make the regular season roster, but stranger things have happened.
In Minnesota, Holmes played in 25 games (nine as a starter), compiling 43 combined tackles, five quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, and a sack. His playing time in Minnesota heightened during the 2020 season when Danielle Hunter missed the whole year, and Everson Griffen departed for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. Holmes was on the field for two-thirds of Vikings defensive snaps inside the pandemic season.
But in 2021, Minnesota welcomed back the aforementioned Griffen, signed Stephen Weatherly for a few games, drafted Patrick Jones II and Janarius Robinson, and opted to showcase D.J. Wonnum more in his sophomore campaign. Holmes, along with Ifeadi Odenigbo and Jordan Brailford, was the odd man out.
In Minnesota, Holmes was primarily used as an EDGE rusher, but New York has implemented the 28-year-old on the line’s interior. Perhaps the versatility will increase his chances of making the 2024 squad.
Meanwhile, New York’s defense was wonderful in 2024. It ranked third leaguewide per defensive DVOA, and most Jets games involved onlookers thinking, “This team really just needs a quarterback.” In that vein, Holmes should be in a good spot.
New York employs two other former Vikings in addition to Holmes: tight Tyler Conklin and linebacker Chazz Surratt.
Sportsbooks project the Jets to win 9.5 games next season — three more than the Vikings’ forecast of 6.5.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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