Jets Country

What Signing Kwon Alexander Means For the Jets

Alexander will play for Saleh again this year, joining C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams in New York's linebacker room.

Max Goodman

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Veteran linebacker Kwon Alexander and Jets head coach Robert Saleh are reunited in the same organization once again.

Alexander has signed a one-year deal with New York according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, bolstering Gang Green's linebacker room in the first few days of training camp.

The 27-year-old is set to enter his eighth NFL season this year. After four years with the Buccaneers, who selected him in the fourth round in 2015, Alexander signed with San Francisco. He proceeded to play in eight games in 2019, working closely with Saleh, the 49ers' defensive coordinator. 

San Francisco made it all the way to the Super Bowl that year, falling short against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. 

Last year, with the Saints, Alexander racked up a career-high 3.5 sacks, making 50 tackles in 12 games. He added an interception and forced fumble as well. 

Now, with the Jets, Alexander joins a group of linebackers featuring leader C.J. Mosley and rising star Quincy Williams, who broke out last year in green and white. Alexander is poised to bring some depth to a position that needed reinforcements, a familiar face that already understands the type of culture (and defensive system) that Saleh is aiming to establish in Florham Park.

Alexander will need to avoid the injury bug, something that's plagued him previously in his career. The linebacker suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 16 of the 2020 season (after the Saints acquired him in a midseason trade with San Francisco). He missed time with the 49ers due to injury as well.

In his entire seven-year career, Alexander has accumulated 521 tackles and 12 sacks. 

For a young team looking to take a step forward in 2022, Alexander can serve as another veteran leader on defense, more competition for internal assets in training camp. Not only can the linebacker help mentor some of New York's younger defenders, but he's poised to provide a spark in Saleh's heavy rotation on the defensive side of the ball as well. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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