New York Jets add much-needed interior push by acquiring Harrison Phillips from Minnesota and Jowon Briggs from Cleveland in separate trades. Phillips should start beside Quinnen Williams in the base 4-3, while Briggs adds depth behind the starters. The moves come after Byron Cowart’s ankle injury, and Jay Tufele has stood out in the preseason, giving the Jets a low-cost rotation that wasn’t addressed in the draft.

Phillips, 29, has started 62 games and posted a career-high 92 tackles in 2023, making him a reliable run defender. The Vikings’ salary shift to help fit Jets’ cap needs hints at a calculated upgrade. Briggs, a rookie with limited snap counts last year, is expected to bolster depth behind Williams. Jets DC Steve Wilks stressed competitive balance as the DL group settles in, with multiple players vying for time opposite Williams.