The New York Jets made several splashier moves this offseason, but one of their more fascinating additions may wind up being one of the most important.
When general manager Darren Mougey acquired defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat from the Tennessee Titans, the trade was viewed by many as a smart gamble on upside. New York desperately needed reinforcements along a defensive front that too often lacked consistency, physicality, and staying power during a miserable 3-14 campaign.
Now comes an endorsement Jets fans should probably pay close attention to. When an established NFL star speaks glowingly about a former teammate, people notice. When that player is Jeffrey Simmons, the words carry even more weight.
Jeffrey Simmons sees something special in T’Vondre Sweat
When an established NFL star speaks glowingly about a former teammate, people notice. When that player is Jeffrey Simmons, the words carry even more weight.
Speaking recently about Sweat during an appearance on The Long Beach Joe Show, the four-time Pro Bowler made it abundantly clear that he believes the young defensive tackle has barely scratched the surface.
That line about Sweat having “some potential that sometimes he doesn’t understand” alone should intrigue Jets fans. That is not casual praise. That is the kind of endorsement reserved for players teammates genuinely believe can become special.
The Jets are betting on T’Vondre Sweat’s upside becoming reality
Of course, Sweat’s talent and potential have never been questioned. His physical gifts jump off the screen. At his best, he can overwhelm blockers, disrupt the run game, and make life miserable between the tackles. The larger concerns have always lived elsewhere: conditioning, discipline, consistency, and professional habits.
That is what makes the timing of these endorsements so interesting. Veteran Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips recently revealed he has essentially taken Sweat under his wing, mentoring him this offseason and helping establish the kind of accountability New York clearly wants throughout the locker room. Now Simmons is publicly reinforcing the same message.
The talent is real. The question is whether everything else catches up. If it does, the Jets may have acquired far more than rotational defensive line help. They may have landed one of the more dangerous interior defensive pieces in the AFC, because NFL teams do not speak this confidently about ordinary players.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets’ T’Vondre Sweat earns massive endorsement former All-Pro teammate
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
