Five Detroit Lions free agents who could join Aaron Glenn at the New York Jets

Aaron Glenn could try to bring one or more of the Lions’ free agents with him to the Jets.
Aaron Glenn has been named the new head coach of the New York Jets, following weeks of speculation.

So the Detroit Lions are looking for a new defensive coordinator, which is exactly what head coach Dan Campbell expected. While some Lions assistant coaches may follow Glenn to New York, it’s possible that some players may also leave in free agency.

According to reports, Glenn is looking for an experienced defensive coordinator, and Steve Wilks has been mentioned frequently since Glenn took over as head coach of the Jets. But the Jets’ core defensive philosophy will undoubtedly bear Glenn’s imprint, which is to say (assuming he brings his philosophy from Detroit) that they will blitz frequently and play a lot of man coverage.

The Jets appear to have some defensive players who fit Glenn’s defensive style well. But he will undoubtedly want some players who are already familiar with his scheme/philosophy and who fit in well. And, when it comes down to it, some upcoming Lions free agents who developed a relationship with Glenn during his four years in Detroit may be willing to follow him to New York.

Here are five upcoming Lions free agents who may follow Glenn to New York.

5 Lions 2025 free agents who could join Aaron Glenn at the Jets
5. DE Marcus Davenport

The Lions took a one-year chance on Davenport last offseason, and while this year’s injury was rather random (an arm/elbow injury when Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson chopped down on his arm in Week 3), the undeniable reality is he just can’t stay healthy (six games played over the last two seasons). He has also had only three sacks in his last 21 games, indicating that his potential as a former first-round pick is fading quickly.

So Davenport will be joining his fourth team in as many seasons in 2025. Where that will be is unclear, as his options are likely limited.

Glenn was a member of the New Orleans Saints’ coaching staff when he was draughted 14th overall in 2018. As far as low-risk options for bolstering their pass rush are concerned, the Jets could do worse than Davenport.

4. DL John Cominsky

Cominsky missed the entire 2024 season after tearing the MCL in his right knee during training camp. In his previous two seasons with the Lions, he had 66 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, and 20 quarterback hits as a useful and versatile defensive lineman.

Cominsky found a home in Detroit after being claimed off waivers in 2022. This season’s injury makes it unlikely that he will be re-signed this offseason, but reuniting with Glenn in New York is definitely possible as the Jets retool their defence.

3. LB Derrick Barnes

Barnes’ 2024 season ended early (Week 3) due to a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee from a low block.His ACL remained intact, so there appeared to be a slim chance he could have returned before the season was over. But that was resolved before the regular season ended, and the Lions’ playoff run was short-lived.

Barnes has matured into an excellent all-around off-ball linebacker in Glenn’s defensive scheme over the last few seasons. Aside from any concerns about his injury recovery in March, the Lions have some good depth at linebacker and could let him go on the open market without fear of not being able to replace him.

Barnes was a college defensive end who made the full transition to linebacker once he reached the NFL. Glenn would value that versatility, as well as his familiarity with him. The Jets’ new defensive scheme (again, assuming Glenn’s success in Detroit) would necessitate more traditionally sized linebackers, rather than Jamien Sherwood, who thrived in the previous scheme this season but is a converted safety (216 pounds).

2. DL Levi Onwuzurike.

Onwuzurike was finally 100% healthy this season, and it showed. His traditional surface stats won’t blow your mind (28 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss), but he did have 13 quarterback pressures (according to Pro Football Reference), and Pro Football Focus ranked him as a top-25 defensive tackle in the NFL.According to PFF, his pass-rush win rate of 12.5% ranked him among the top 15 defensive tackles.

“Onwuzurike has flashed whenever he’s been healthy during his first four seasons in the league, after being draughted one round ahead of recently extended interior defender Alim McNeill in 2021. The former second-round pick from Washington is the penetrating three-technique interior pass-rusher that every team covets, with a 12.5% pass-rush win rate in 2024 ranking among the top-15 at the position.”
-Professional Football Focus

One fully healthy season, no matter how good it was, will not allow Onwuzurike to completely break the bank in free agency (PFF projects a two-year, $16.5 million contract with $10 million guaranteed). However, he has most likely priced himself out of the Lions’ ability to re-sign him, leaving the Jets (and Glenn) as an easy landing spot.

1. CB Carlton Davis.

Davis proved to be the Lions’ ideal veteran cornerback this season, with his skills (77.0 passer rating allowed, 11 pass breakups) and swagger. He also finished the season sidelined with a broken jaw, continuing a run of injuries dating back to his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has missed at least four games in each of the previous four seasons, and durability concerns persist as players age.

During the Lions’ season-ending press conference on Thursday, general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged Davis’ outstanding performance and stated that no contract talks are currently underway.

“I thought we got some great play from him. I’ll be honest, I thought he played better this year than the previous year, or last year in Tampa, and he’ll tell you the same thing,” Holmes said. “So, no intense action yet, but we’re very aware of it and we’ll go through our normal process.”

Sauce Gardner is obviously the Jets’ top cornerback. However, D.J. Reed, a running mate, is a free agent and appears to be seeking new opportunities.

“I’m ready for free agency, bro. “I’m ready to see what’s next for me,” Reed told Tyler Dunne on The Go Long podcast late this season.

Davis is an obvious replacement for Reed if the Jets must go that route, almost too easy, given his connection to Glenn and familiarity with the new defensive scheme. The Lions must strike a balance between Davis’ age (28) and how many years and money they can commit to him, which will be difficult given that he is likely to have multiple suitors.

Davis may want to stay in Detroit. However, Glenn’s attraction to the Jets, assuming they are interested, appears to be strong.

Top Discussion: Who will have the better coaching career between Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn?

Detroit Lions’ Coordinators Move On: Who Will Have a Better Career?

The Detroit Lions are facing a significant challenge as they need to replace both their offensive and defensive coordinators. Ben Johnson has taken the reins as the Chicago Bears’ head coach, while Aaron Glenn will lead the New York Jets in 2025. As we look to the future, we’ll discuss potential candidates and analyze the Lions’ ultimate decisions. For now, let’s focus on Glenn and Johnson’s new endeavors

Each coach is stepping into vastly different situations, requiring distinct approaches. Johnson joins a Bears team that underperformed in 2024, finishing 5-12. However, they showed promise early in the season, and Johnson inherits a young, potential franchise quarterback, along with a solid defense. The Bears’ offense has struggled historically, and Johnson will face the challenge of revitalizing the unit while competing in a tough NFC North division.

On the other hand, Glenn takes over a Jets team with deeper organizational issues. The team’s owner, Woody Johnson, has been a lightning rod for controversy, and the franchise is in the process of hiring a new general manager. The Jets’ problems are more entrenched, requiring a complete overhaul of the team’s culture and foundation. Glenn will need to address the quarterback situation, whether by working with a 41-year-old signal-caller or finding a new one.

Given these circumstances, it’s likely that Ben Johnson will experience more immediate success with the Bears. He has a stronger foundation to build upon, and the team’s young quarterback shows promise. However, it’s Aaron Glenn who may ultimately become the better head coach. Glenn’s experience and understanding of the Jets’ organization could serve him well in rebuilding the team’s culture and foundation.

The NFC North will continue to be a highly competitive division, with established coaches like Kevin O’Connell, Dan Campbell, and Matt LaFleur. Johnson may face challenges in developing his young quarterback and overcoming the division’s stiff competition. In contrast, Glenn’s experience and knowledge of the Jets’ organization could help him rise to the top in an AFC East division that’s more up for grabs.

Who do you think will have the better career in their new homes?

Jets Hire Aaron Glenn, Completely Change Course on GM Hire

Former Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn reacting in the middle of an NFL game.
The New York Jets have hired Aaron Glenn as the No. 21 head coach in franchise history.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was the first to report the news on social media.

Shortly after the news broke, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero shared the shift that the Jets were making in the front office.

“With the Jets finalizing their expected deal with Aaron Glenn to be their head coach, the team now plans to proceed to additional second interviews for their GM job, per sources. Lance Newmark was in the building with Glenn on Monday and others remain under consideration,” Pelissero explained.

With the #Jets finalizing their expected deal with Aaron Glenn to be their head coach, the team now plans to proceed to additional second interviews for their GM job, per sources. Lance Newmark was in the building with Glenn on Monday and others remain under consideration.

Jets Now Have All The Time in The World to Make Their Decision
The green and white had a general manager opening before anyone else in this cycle. On November 19 the Jets fired Joe Douglas as the GM.

Despite having that opening for months, the Jets are now the last team that still has a vacancy.

The Tennessee Titans hired Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi to be their new GM. On Wednesday, January 22 the Las Vegas Raiders hired John Spytek to fill the general manager role.

With the Jets being the final destination left, they have no one else to compete with for these top NFL execs.

Instead of just pairing Glenn with Lance Newmark they are completely reopening the GM search. Newmark was the only finalist from the first group, but the Jets plan on having second interviews with others from their list.

Jets Zigged When Others Would Zag
Gang Green hired Glenn, a head coach, before hiring a general manager.

That strategy is a bit unusual. Typically teams hire general managers and then they sit in on HC interviews to help find the next guy.

The Jets doing it in this way tells you how strongly they felt about Glenn.

Now the challenge will be finding the right guy to pair with Glenn. You want two guys who will be on the same page and ideally are aligned philosophically on the vision of the team and general roster construction.

Glenn and whoever the next GM will be don’t necessarily have to come from the same place, but the team needs to get it right.

Glenn might be doing the cooking in the kitchen, but the general manager shops for the ingredients. Communication is key in that relationship so the right groceries are being bought and everyone is following the right recipe to success.

The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 14 seasons. It is the longest playoff drought in team history and the longest playoff drought in all of professional North American sports.

They needed a culture change and boy did they get a guy who knows all about them. If he can do it here in New York is a question no one has the answer to.

JUST IN: Alvin Kamara Gives Endorsement for Preferred Saints Head Coach Candidate after Gayle Benson’s surprise decision on Darren Rizzi

Kamara has endorsed Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi for the full-time job.

Alvin Kamara has gone public with his choice for his team’s next head coach. It isn’t much of a surprise.

The New Orleans Saints running back took to X (formerly Twitter) and tweeted the following on Tuesday, ” Aite my vote for head coach rhyme wit Fizzi…”

It’s not much of a mystery who he’s endorsing. The only name that “rhyme wit Fizzi” is Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi.

Rizzi has been with the Saints since 2019, starting out as the special teams coordinator, then adding the assistant head coach title in 2022. He was named interim head coach on November 4 after the team fired Dennis Allen. New Orleans went 3-5 over the team’s final eight games to finish the season 5-12.

The Saints’ players seem to love the 54-year-old Rizzi, but his coaching tenure left much to be desired.

New Orleans has reportedly advanced New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the second round of interviews. Rizzi was interviewed over the weekend.

In-person interviews were supposed to continue on Tuesday, but are delayed due to snow in New Orleans.

BREAKING: Woody Johnson and NY Jets are ready to block New Orleans Saints’ opportunity to land their dream coaching candidate by hiring him as Head Coach

From the moment the New Orleans Saints fired Dennis Allen, the franchise has consistently been connected to one name: Aaron Glenn.

The Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator is a highly regarded candidate during this hiring cycle, and because of his connection to New Orleans as a player and a coach, he’s been identified as a leading candidate for the Saints.

Since the offseason started for New Orleans, several reports have said that Glenn is the guy the Saints want.

Additionally, franchise legends like Drew Brees and Reggie Bush have publicly endorsed Glenn to be the team’s next head coach.

Now that the Detroit Lions are out the playoffs, Glenn can be hired by any team with an opening. However, closing the show is not going to be easy for the Saints, because they have another team working against them. The New York Jets, who Glenn also has a history with, is hoping to hire Glenn before he can even make it to New Orleans.

Jets trying to hire Aaron Glenn before his meeting with Saints

Glenn is scheduled for an interview with New York on Tuesday and New Orleans on Wednesday.

Reports have emerged that Glenn is the top target for both openings, so the Jets definitely have the upper hand, as he is meeting with them first. New York will attempt to do something that’s common in the recruiting world, which is make someone cancel the rest of their visits.

This is often seen in college recruiting and NFL free agency, where the first team presents a case so strong that the player signs on the dotted line before leaving the building.

For that to happen in this case with Glenn, the Jets truly have to be his first choice.

Knowing how monumental of a decision this is for his career, it’d make sense for him to listen to both teams, then make a decision on Wednesday.

If that doesn’t happen, and he instead agrees to a deal with the Jets on Tuesday, New York is where he wanted to be, and the Saints would have to move on to another plan