{"id":281944,"date":"2026-05-05T13:00:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=281944"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:00:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:00:43","slug":"bobby-okereke-jets-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/05\/05\/bobby-okereke-jets-free-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Bobby Okereke Could Help the Jets Linebacker Group"},"content":{"rendered":"

After addressing some major needs during the offseason, the New York Jets are looking to take the next step forward. Between free agency and trades, the team’s defense looks much better on paper<\/a> compared to a year ago. Hopefully, able to generate more turnovers this season. However, the team still has one area they should address. After improving on the defensive line and the secondary, it’s hard to get excited about the linebacker group. Yes, veteran Demario Davis’ return should help. But he’s only one man. Unless Jamien Sherwood has a major bounce-back, they still need help.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there is a free agent who’d be a good addition at linebacker. Not only has this veteran played at MetLife Stadium previously, but he also has a connection to the coaching staff. While he might not make a Pro Bowl, free agent linebacker Bobby Okereke could be a big addition to the Jets defense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bobby Okereke Could Help the Jets Linebacker Group<\/h2>\n

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Thus far, general manager Darren Mougey has done a great job addressing the Jets needs. After prioritizing the defense in free agency, he brought in the best pass rusher in college with the second overall pick, edge rusher David Bailey. After finishing with the second-fewest sacks last year, the expectation is for Bailey to help turn it around.<\/p>\n

Along with adding to the interior of the defensive line by trading for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat<\/a> and signing David Onyemata. In addition, the team reunites with veteran Demario Davis<\/a> for the linebacker’s third tenure with the Jets. The expectation is that Davis will provide support for the team as a vocal leader and veteran presence quarterbacking the defense. However, Davis is 37 years old and is only one player.<\/p>\n

While Davis will help, they need to get more from Jamien Sherwood. After leading the league in solo tackles in 2024 with 98<\/a>, Sherwood’s production dipped to only 71 last year. Sherwood is still productive, but significantly undersized at the position, weighing only 216lbs. It’s not the worst problem to have, but it’s still a problem for head coach Aaron Glenn. However, one way to help is on the market.<\/p>\n

Bobby Okereke’s Start in Indianapolis<\/h3>\n

Free agent linebacker Bobby Okereke<\/a> is still looking for a team in 2026. The veteran linebacker was drafted 89th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> out of Stanford. A standout four-year starter for the Cardinal, Okereke racked up 240 career total tackles in Palo Alto, 114 of which were solo tackles. Along with 19 TFLs and 10.5 sacks. It was a slow start to his career, as Okereke was a rotational piece for the first two seasons. In 2021, Okereke finally earned a full-time starting job at middle linebacker.<\/p>\n

Okereke ended his first season as a starter with 89 solo tackles, 132 total tackles, and three TFLs<\/a>. In addition, he had two interceptions that season. Moving to left linebacker in 2022, Okereke enjoyed his best season as a Colt. He ended the year with 99 solo tackles, 151 total tackles, six TFLs, and forced two fumbles while recovering both. This would be Okereke’s final season in Indianapolis after leaving to sign with the New York Giants<\/a> on a four-year, $40 million contract.<\/p>\n

Okereke Shone With The Giants<\/h3>\n

Entering the 2023 season with a new deal in New York, Okereke became the defensive captain for the Giants. While the Giants finished 2023 6-11, that’s not the fault of Okereke. He finished his first season in New York with 149 total tackles, 99 solo tackles, while generating turnovers with four forced fumbles and two interceptions. Along with 10 passes defended and a career high two and a half sacks. Okereke was not only productive but also one of only two Giants not to miss a single snap that season, the other being safety Xavier McKinney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, 2024 would be a challenge. After suffering a herniated disk in his lower back, Okereke missed the final five games of the season. Through 12 games, Okereke’s season ended with 93 total tackles, 47 solo tackles, and three forced fumbles. Thankfully, Okereke bounced back in 2025. He ended 2025 with 143 total tackles, 78 solo tackles, and two interceptions. However, he was unable to get into the backfield like he used to, with only two TFLs and no forced fumbles. In a measure to secure cap space, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen<\/a> cut Okereke on the final year of his deal.<\/p>\n

How Bobby Okereke Can Help The Jets Linebacker Group<\/h3>\n

Shockingly, someone of Okereke’s caliber is still on the market. While he took a step back after his back injury, Okereke still played in 17 games in four of the last five seasons. With a need to generate turnovers and boost the linebacker room, Okereke would be a great fit for the Jets. Bobby Okereke would be the perfect contrast to Jamien Sherwood to pair next to Demario Davis for the Jets. Aaron Glenn could use Bobby Okereke similarly to how Jack Campbell<\/a> operated for him in Detroit. Not only that, the team already has personnel on the coaching staff familiar with his game.<\/p>\n

When Okereke was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, who was their head coach at the time? That’s right, new Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich<\/a>. Of the 74 games Okereke played for the Colts, 66 of those games were with Frank Reich on the sideline. Reich’s firsthand experience with Okereke could make him the perfect guy to help Bobby acclimate to Aaron Glenn’s defense.<\/p>\n

Main Image: [Robert Deutsch] – Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New York Jets defense looks much better compared to last year, but still have a need at linebacker. Can free agent Bobby Okereke help?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4597,"featured_media":282082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,6],"tags":[33883,9659,2553,3562,8042,7287],"class_list":["post-281944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-jets","tag-2026-nfl-free-agency","tag-bobby-okereke","tag-demario-davis","tag-frank-reich","tag-jamien-sherwood","tag-new-york-jets-roster"],"modified_by":"Michael Zimmelman","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4597"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281944"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":282096,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281944\/revisions\/282096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/282082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=281944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=281944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}