By WFAN.com
The Jets have reportedly checked in with the Jacksonville Jaguars about the availability of edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr.
The New York Daily News' Manish Mehta reported Tuesday on the Jets' interest in the 24-year-old defensive end, who was the third overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Pass rush is one of the Jets' biggest areas of concern entering the season. They were 28th in the NFL in sacks last year and have since parted ways with Pro Bowler Muhammad Wilkerson. Leonard Williams, widely considered the Jets' most disruptive pass rusher, had just two sacks in 2017.
Fowler had eight sacks in the regular season last year and two more on Tom Brady in the AFC championship game. The former University of Florida star missed his rookie season after tearing his ACL on the first day of rookie minicamp. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder then had four sacks in 2016.
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While he might be a rising talent, Fowler comes with some baggage. The Jaguars recently suspended him for one week of training camp for "violating team rules and conduct unbecoming of a Jaguars football player" after he got into a fight at practice. The NFL also has suspended Fowler for this year's season opener for violating its personal conduct policy after he pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges in July 2017. He was sentenced to probation and fines.
The Jaguars declined to pick up Fowler's option for 2019. It's unclear whether Jacksonville is open to the idea of dealing Fowler.
