Now that we are at the end of the season, it’s time to update you on former Jets players, how they fared during the 2025 season and their contractual status heading into next year. We are covering this in five parts. Having looked at offensive and defensive players from AFC teams last week, we will cover NFC teams this week before closing with a look at special teamers. We continue today with a review of ex-Jets defensive players who were on NFC teams in 2025.
As ever, this list is intended to be exhaustive, but if we missed anyone, let us know in the comments.
Commanders:
After being a second-team all-pro in 2024, Frankie Luvu had a lower impact this season, although he was still productive with 86 tackles, three sacks and six pass breakups.
Defensive end Jacob Martin outproduced Luvu as a pass rusher as he had 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He ended up with 14 starts and 39 tackles.
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw started every game and was disruptive at times but his statistics were extremely underwhelming with 43 tackles and no sacks. He forced one fumble.
Jalyn Holmes also failed to record a sack in a rotational role despite making five starts. He ended up with 21 tackles in 10 games.
Linebacker Nick Bellore played just seven defensive snaps as he was once again mostly employed on special teams.
Bellore, Kinlaw and Luvu remain under contract but Holmes and Martin are pending free agents.
Giants:
Cornerbacks Korie Black and Jarrick Bernard-Converse and linebackers Zaire Barnes and Neville Hewitt all joined the Giants since the start of the season with Black and Bernard-Converse remaining under contract for 2026.
Black had 18 tackles and a pass breakup in nine games, two of which he started, while Bernard-Converse had four tackles in five games in a reserve role. Barnes made one start and had 29 tackles and a sack in 11 games overall, but Hewitt’s role was almost exclusively on special teams.
Cowboys:
Blockbuster trade acquisition Quinnen Williams was a solid contributor for Dallas but didn’t do much for their win-loss record. In seven games, he had 21 tackles, nine quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks. He also intercepted a pass, which was more than the Jets’ entire team managed all year.
Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas was a useful reserve for the Cowboys. He ended up with 27 tackles in 16 games, two of which he started.
A third defensive tackle, Perrion Winfrey spent most of 2025 on injured reserve but made two tackles in a late-season appearance. All three defensive tackles remain under contract.
Cornerback Corey Ballentine is now a free agent, having played five times for Dallas in 2025. He had two tackles as he played 23 defensive snaps.
Eagles:
Slot corner Michael Carter II was a trade acquisition who remains under contract with a cap number of over $10 million in 2026. His contributions after arriving in Philadelphia were modest as he started just one game and had 10 tackles and no pass breakups in eight games.
Cornerback Parry Nickerson was not retained after the season but did make five appearances with two tackles. He played 11 defensive snaps.
Bears:
The Bears haven’t had any ex-Jets on their defense yet this season.
Packers:
Safety Jaylin Simpson and cornerback Shemar Bartholomew each made one appearance for Green Bay during the season and remain under contract for 2026. Simpson had eight tackles and Bartholomew had four with one tackle for loss.
Vikings:
Linebacker Blake Cashman missed another four games with injuries in 2025 but still ended up ninth in the league with 144 total tackles. He added two sacks and two pass breakups and remains under contract.
Also: Bartholomew spent time on the practice squad before ending up with the Packers.
Lions:
Cornerback DJ Reed spent time on injured reserve but was solid in his 11 starts as he had 46 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions. He remains under contract.
Another ex-Jets cornerback, Art Maulet, got some playing time with Reed out and ended up with 14 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception in nine games.
Defensive back Jalen Mills also made three appearances and had six tackles and a pass breakups. He and Maulet are out of contract.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson was briefly with the team but played just 14 snaps in his lone appearance and didn’t generate any statistics before being released.
Bucs:
Edge defender Haason Reddick heads to free agency again having provided poor value for money for the Bucs. He started 12 games but only had 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Also: Cornerback Bryce Hall was on the practice squad but did not play and wasn’t retained.
Falcons:
Atlanta hasn’t had any ex-Jets on their defense this season.
Saints:
All-pro linebacker Demario Davis and defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd remained in key roles for the Saints, with Davis starting every game as he racked up a career-high 143 tackles.
Shepherd, who remains under contract for 2026, started eight games and had 47 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in 16 games overall.
Davis, who added two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and 0.5 sacks, is now out of contract.
Panthers:
Linebacker Claud Cherelus made four starts as he ended up with 32 tackles and a pass breakup in 14 games.
Also: Linebacker Jared Bartlett was signed to a futures deal after the season.
49ers:
Defensive end Bryce Huff bounced back from a rough 2024 with 30 tackles and four sacks in 15 games but actually didn’t have any sacks in the last eight games. He remains under contract.
Safety Jason Pinnock is a pending free agent after recording 41 tackles in 2025. He played in all 17 games.
Also: Defensive lineman Bruce Hector spent time on the practice squad but did not play and was not retained, while linebacker Milo Eifler was signed to a futures deal after the season.
Rams:
The Rams were another team with no defensive ex-Jets on their roster at any point this season.
Seahawks:
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams remains under contract after again being named as a pro bowler and second-team all-pro. He had 62 tackles and seven sacks, with 22 quarterback hits, then helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl by recording four tackles and a sack in three playoff starts.
Linebacker Chazz Surratt made 11 appearances but played just seven defensive snaps.
Also: Linebacker Ja’Markis Weston signed to the practice squad and received a futures deal after the Super Bowl. He did not see action but will have earned a Super Bowl ring along with Surratt, Williams and Sam Darnold.
Cardinals:
Linebacker Jared Bartlett spent time on the practice squad before ending up in Carolina. He made two appearances on special teams only.
Check back here next week when we’ll be covering ex-Jets special teamers and how they performed in 2025…