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The Jets have signed linebacker Stephone Anthony.
The #Jets are signing LB Stephone Anthony, source said. The former first-rounder played in Miami the last couple of years with Adam Gase and was drafted to the #Saints, who had LB coach Joe Vitt.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 21, 2019
Anthony was a first round pick of the Saints in 2015. The Saints then traded him to Miami for a fifth round pick in 2017. He spent part of this offseason with the Falcons before being released.
Some are describing this as a potential move to replace Avery Williamson, but I’m not sure that is necessarily accurate. The fact the Saints sold low on a first round pick after two years, and the Dolphins subsequently declined his fifth year option probably do not bode well for his chances of contributing. Additionally Anthony did not even play much for Gase last year. He saw only 27 snaps on the defensive side of the ball all season.
I think Anthony might have been signed for a potential special teams role instead. He was a core special teamer in Miami last season, playing over three quarters of the snaps. If Neville Hewitt slides into Williamson’s starting role, the Jets might want to play him less on special teams. That is where a guy like Anthony might contribute.