The New York Jets not only made a big splash on the offensive side of the ball this offseason by signing Le'Veon Bell, but they also made waves on the defensive side, signing linebacker C.J. Mosley.
Mosley will join a Jets linebacking corps that includes Avery Williamson, Brandon Copeland, and Jordan Jenkins, a group that Mosley will unquestionably be the captain of.
So, what should the Jets expect from Mosley going into 2019?
Well, what we do know is that New York is getting a guy who has consistently been one of the best linebackers in football since he entered the league with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2014.
Mosley has made the Pro Bowl in four of his five NFL seasons, and in the one year he didn't make the Pro Bowl in 2015, he was still spectacular, racking up 117 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, a couple of fumble recoveries, seven passes defended, and a defensive touchdown.
Obviously, the Jets are getting a star here, and the best part is that Mosley fits their 3-4 defense, as he played in the same style of defense in Baltimore.
There is no reason why New York should not expect Mosley to be every bit as productive as he was during his time with the Ravens, with Mosley flashing his talent as a run stopper, occasional pass rusher, and as a pass defender, particularly in 2016 when he logged four interceptions.
Some guys can just slide into new teams with new surroundings and be perfectly fine, and Mosley is almost surely one of those players.
The Jets' defense was already solid as it is, and with the addition of Mosley, it gets that much better.
Also, keep in mind that Mosley's impact goes beyond just himself. Not only will Mosley be able to post numbers and dominate the game as an individual, but he will also help out the rest of New York's defense, especially the other linebackers.
For example, Mosley will make Williamson, a fellow inside linebacker, better, and Williamson was already pretty good to begin with, as he registered 120 tackles, three sacks, a pick, a pair of forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 2018.
The duo of Mosley and Williamson will be lethal up the middle, and with solid pass rushers like Jenkins and Copeland on the outside, the Jets could end up having one of the best linebacking corps in football next season.
Throw in the fact that safety Marcus Maye is getting healthy after an injury-plagued second year in the NFL and will be back alongside of Jamal Adams, and New York should have a nasty defense in general.
While Bell stole all the headlines, Mosley may have been the best overall pickup for the Jets this offseason, as he is, without a doubt, one of the best linebackers in the league and might instantly become the best player on the Jets' defense.
Expect another 100-tackle season out of Mosley with some sacks and fine pass coverage to boot, and expect better seasons from all of the players around him as a result.
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