Gang Green Nation
Taking a look at a Jets free agent signing
The New York Jets signed former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Jay Tufele to a one-year contract early on in free agency. Today we break Tufele down in detail.
The 25-year old Tufele is listed at 6’3” and 310 pounds and was a fourth round pick out of USC in 2021. He has started five games in his NFL career, recording 44 tackles, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, a pass defensed and half a sack in four years.
Background
Tufele was almost 300 pounds as a high schooler and was a five-star recruit who enrolled at USC in 2017 and redshirted his first season.
In 2018, he saw action in a rotational role that saw him start five games. He ended the season with 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, earning all-Pac 12 second team honors. He also returned a fumble for a 48-yard touchdown.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, he was a first team all-Pac 12 selection after racking up 41 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
However, he opted out of the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, deciding to instead prepare to be an early entry into the 2021 draft. While some sites had him listed as a probable day two and possible late first round pick ahead of the 2020 season, sitting out a year hurt his stock and he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round.
Tufele struggled to make an impact as a rookie, ending up with just two tackles in four games. He was released in final cuts ahead of the 2022 season. However, the Bengals claimed him off waivers and he found himself a home as a rotational lineman with them over the past three seasons.
In 2022, he played in seven games, starting two. He ended up with 16 tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. He then had 11 tackles in 10 games as a reserve in 2023.
Last season, he played in 13 games, starting three, and ended up with 15 tackles and the first half-sack of his career. However, the Bengals did not extend him, so he hit the open market at the end of the year.
The Jets signed Tufele to a one-year minimum salary deal during the early stages of free agency.
Let’s move on to some more in-depth analysis of what Tufele brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Tufele was already an NFL-sized defensive tackle by the time he was about 16 but he lacks ideal length. Having been part of the draft class that didn’t get a chance to work out at the combine due to the pandemic, he impressed during his pro day workout with a 5.02 time in the 40-yard dash and 30 bench press reps.
His explosiveness and agility numbers were slight below average for the position but he shows...
