The New York Jets spent the offseason trying to solve one of the most alarming problems from their disastrous 2025 campaign: their inability to take the football away.
That issue reached historic levels last season when they failed to record a single interception, something that had never happened in the modern NFL era.
It was an astonishing statistic for a defense that once prided itself on creating chaos and suffocating opposing passing attacks. New York responded aggressively. The Jets traded for former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, whose 21 career interceptions immediately bring credibility and proven production to the secondary.
They also added cornerback Nahshon Wright after a breakout season in Chicago that included five interceptions. Still, some believe the Jets may not be done searching for ballhawks.
NFL.com’s Matt Okada recently named the Jets as the best fit for free-agent cornerback Trevon Diggs. As most know, he’s a former All-Pro whose career has stalled due to injuries and inconsistency.
“I used to be a researcher here at the NFL, so I’ve seen every mind-boggling statistic you can imagine. That the New York Jets managed zero interceptions over the entirety of the 2025 season remains one of the most absurd facts I’ve ever encountered. It’s unconscionable… Diggs is the perfect low-cost, low-risk, high-reward signing for a team like the Jets. If he can’t rediscover his early upside, then no harm, no foul. But if the 27-year-old harnesses his Pro Bowl form once again, Gang Green could get an excellent bargain.”
At his peak, Diggs was one of football’s premier turnover creators. He intercepted 11 passes during the 2021 season alone and recorded 18 interceptions across his first four NFL campaigns. Quarterbacks feared testing him because mistakes often became takeaways. The problem was that he had a Jekyll and Hyde personality. There was a lot of ‘feast or famine’ with his playing style, and the dominant version of Diggs feels increasingly distant.
Injuries have limited him to just 18 appearances over the last two seasons, and the Dallas Cowboys eventually decided to move on from the massive contract they once handed him. His brief stint with the Green Bay Packers also failed to reignite his career. There is little questioning Diggs’ instincts or natural playmaking ability. The bigger concern is whether his body will allow him to return to form.
For now, the Jets may be better served by trusting the young pieces already in place. Between Brandon Stephens, Azareye’h Thomas, Wright, and rookie D’Angelo Ponds, New York already has significant investment tied to the cornerback room. Still, when a defense fails to generate even one interception, every proven ballhawk deserves at least a conversation. Mentioning Diggs seems to be as decent a place to start the conversation as any.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets named an ideal landing spot for former All-Pro cornerback
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
