The Jets continued to beef up the defense by acquiring 27-year old cornerback Lito Sheppard from the Eagles for a 5th round pick in 2009 and a conditional pick in 2010 (2nd, 3rd or 4th rounder based on Sheppard’s play in 2009).  Sheppard played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he made 21 tackles, defensed 4 passes, forced 1 fumble and he had 1 interception.  Sheppard has now played in 93 games in his NFL career in which he has made 253 tackles, defensed 69 passes, has 2 sacks, forced 3 fumbles and he has 18 interceptions (3 returned for TDs).  Teaming Sheppard with Revis on the other side of the field should make the Jets hard to pass on in 2009.

The Jets have signed inside linebacker Bart Scott to a 6-year, $48 million dollar contract.  Scott is reunited with Rex Ryan who was his defensive co-ordinator with the Ravens.  Scott played in all 16 games for the Ravens last season and he made 82 tackles, defensed 5 passes, had 1.5 sacks and he forced 2 fumbles.  Scott has now played in 109 games in his NFL career and he has made 433 tackles, defensed 22 passes, has 16 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and he has 3 interceptions.  This was an outstanding signing for the Jets as Scott should team up inside with David Harris to make them very hard to run on in 2009.