One hour into the NFL’s negotiating window, the Jets had already completely revamped their defense.

On Monday morning, they traded a seventh-round pick for Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. When the clock struck noon and free agency began they moved quickly, agreeing to contracts with linebacker Demario Davis (most recently of the Saints), ex-Bengals edge rusher Joseph Ossai, former Packers edge Kingsley Enagbare and longtime Falcons and Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata. All five players fill positions of need for a Jets defense that was one of the worst in team history last season.

Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are doing everything in their power to make sure last year’s performance isn’t repeated — especially the part where the Jets set NFL records for fewest interceptions (zero) and takeaways (four). Each of these veterans will step in immediately and play key roles in what should be an aggressive, blitz-heavy defense with a lot of man-to-man coverage and plenty of time (though not every snap) spent in a 3-4 alignment.

The big one: A Demario Davis reunion — again

Of the four additions, Davis (for two years, $22 million, per league sources) is the most notable for a couple of reasons. He has a long history with both this Jets organization and, separately, with Glenn. Davis was drafted by the Jets in the third round of the 2012 draft, spent his first four seasons in New York, left as a free agent to sign with the Browns in 2016 and then was traded back to the Jets again in 2017. He signed with the Saints as a free agent in 2018, which is where he spent the last eight seasons as one of the NFL’s most productive linebackers — and crossed paths with Glenn from 2018-20, when Glenn was New Orleans’ defensive backs coach.

Davis, 37, may not be the same level of player he once was, but he’s still highly productive (143 tackles in 2025) and graded out as one of the best run-stopping linebackers in the NFL last season. He was less successful in coverage — he allowed 45 catches on 48 targets and two touchdowns, per PFF — but the Jets are also signing him for more than just his on-field production. New York severely lacked leadership on last year’s defense after letting go of C.J. Mosley, and Davis will immediately step in. Glenn will be calling plays, and Davis will likely take the green dot away from Jamien Sherwood (who is coming off a down season) and be named the defensive captain at some point before the season. Davis is well-known as one of the NFL’s better leaders. He ranked 58th in The Athletic’s Top 150 free agency rankings, and fourth among linebackers. Daniel Popper described him as an “elite run defender.”

Two edge rushers to address the roster’s biggest need

As for the edge rushers: Both should help add depth and talent to a group that looked like one of the weakest on the roster after Jermaine Johnson was traded to the Titans. Ossai ranked 74th overall (10th among edge rushers) and Enagbare ranks 117th (15th among edges) in The Athletic’s free-agent rankings. Ossai signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract ($22.5 million guaranteed), according to league sources, while Enagbare’s deal comes in at $10 million for one year.

Ossai, 25, comes from the Bengals, where he’s improved each season and joins the Jets as an ideal fit as an outside linebacker in a predominantly 3-4 scheme. Per PFF, Ossai had a career-high 44 pressures last season, along with five sacks, 12 QB hits and two forced fumbles. PFF also graded him well as a run stopper, 15th among all edge rushers to play at least 500 total snaps. Here’s Popper’s scouting report on Ossai:

“Ossai is an undersized edge rusher with some length. He has elite pursuit speed, especially from the backside of runs. Ossai utilizes an effective inside long arm to get into a tackle’s chest. He has the ankle flexion to dip and bend around the corner, and he shows timing and instinct on stunts. His lack of size shows up in the run game at times, and he can get stuck when his initial rush move is shut down. He needs to develop counters and secondary moves within rushes to become a more consistent player.”

Enagbare, 26, had two sacks and nine QB hits for the Packers in 2025. He’s also better known for his skills as a run-stopper, but there is some potential to grow as a pass rusher in what should be a rotational role with the Jets.

Here’s Popper’s scouting report on Enagbare: “Enagbare has intriguing tools as a long edge defender with explosiveness. Those tools show up most often as a run defender. He had eight run tackles for a loss or no gain in 2025, including the postseason. Enagbare lacks refinement as a pass rusher, and that has impacted his ability to take a production step in that phase. He has just 11.5 career sacks in four seasons, and his 10.6 percent pressure rate in 2025 ranked 96th among defensive linemen with at least 200 pass-rush snaps.”

More depth on the defensive line

Glenn wanted to add multiple players from his history as he tries to install this new iteration of the Jets defense, and so far he’s dug more into his past with the Saints than his time as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. Onyemata, like Davis, was with the Saints in 2018-20 when Glenn was on the staff, and the 33-year-old is another veteran viewed as a perfect fit in a locker room that was in desperate need of leadership. Onyemata reportedly signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal.

Onyemata spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Saints and the last three with the Falcons. He consistently grades as one of the better run-stopping defensive tackles in the NFL — PFF had him ranked 10th in that category last season and seventh in 2023. He also ranked eighth last season in run-play tackling. Between the additions of Onyemata, Davis and the two edge rushers, the Jets have clearly prioritized defenders who are adept at stopping the run; it’s hard to blame them considering the Jets ranked 29th in run defense last season. Here’s what Popper wrote about Onyemata, who he ranked 50th overall and second among defensive tackles:

“Onyemata turned 33 in November, but he looks like a much younger player on film. He has a mean, nasty, physical and violent play style. He is a you-better-come-ready kind of interior defender. He can play out of multiple alignments, from a 0 technique over the center out to a 4i technique on the inside shoulder of the tackle. Onyemata is a very solid all-around interior lineman. He is impactful as a penetrator in the run game and rushes with a high motor.”

The cap space and depth-chart impact

The Jets entered free agency with nearly $75 million in cap space. These four moves — Fitzpatrick also signed a new three-year, $40 million deal after his trade — will cut into that cap space, but it’s unclear how much until the structure of these deals is known.

As for the depth chart: The early expectation should be for Ossai to start at outside linebacker opposite Will McDonald with Enagbare rotating in (particularly on run downs, where McDonald struggles).

Davis will step in immediately as a starter at inside linebacker while Onyemata will rotate on a defensive line that also includes Jowon Briggs, Harrison Phillips and T’Vondre Sweat, acquired in the Johnson trade with the Titans.

What does this do to the Jets’ draft plans?

The interesting side of this is what it could mean for the Jets’ decision with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is the early favorite for that selection — he’s someone who is viewed as both a potential edge rusher and/or inside linebacker. If the Jets want Reese and view him as a linebacker, that could spell trouble for Sherwood.

For now, the Jets are focused on rebuilding their defense, and they made the moves to do so on Monday.