We all know Demario Davis is going to start at one of the Jets two inside linebacker spots.
But a huge question entering camp is who is going to start next to him.
Davis is a 37-year-old linebacker who is a great leader, superb against the run, and very good at getting a defense lined up before the snap.
However, you can’t expect a linebacker his age to be elite in coverage. He can be serviceable, but to expect him to be Fred Warner or Roquan Smith in coverage at this stage of his career is not realistic.
So, the Jets must supply him with a partner at inside linebacker who is an excellent coverage linebacker.
So, it was a little surprising they didn’t address this need in free agency or the draft.
They didn’t draft or sign a new veteran coverage linebacker.
It’s still possible they could add somebody before the season, but right now the candidates to start next to Davis are Jamien Sherwood, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Kiko Mauigoa, Mykal Walker, Chase Wilson and Jaden Keller.
If returning starter Sherwood is going to be the starter next to Davis, he needs to show a lot more in pass coverage this summer than he did last season.
If you break down Sherwood’s film from last year, you wouldn’t necessarily say, “That is the coverage linebacker the Jets should play next to Davis.”
A free agent name they might need to consider, if he’s healthy, is former Buffalo Bill, Matt Milano. Obviously, he’s had a rough injury history in the league, but when healthy, he’s very good in coverage, so he might be worth taking a flyer on.
So who will man the ILB spot next to Davis has to be considered one of the biggest questions they need to answer this summer.
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