Source: Jets to sign free agent NT Steve McLendon
Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Steve McLendon celebrates after the Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns 28-12 in an NFL game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Cleveland. Credit: AP / Ron Schwane
The Jets may have just found their replacement for Damon “Snacks” Harrison: Six-foot-three, 310-pound nose tackle Steve McLendon.
A source told Newsday on Tuesday that the Jets are expected to sign the Steelers’ free agent in the next day or so.
A source said Wednesday that the deal is for three years and $12 million.
It didn’t take long for McLendon, 30, to impress the Jets. He visited the team’s facility on Monday.
Finding a new nose tackle became a chief concern after Harrison signed a five-year, $46.25-million deal with the Giants last week. Though McLendon isn’t as talented as Harrison, he’s solid against the run, particularly in goal-line situations.
Since going undrafted in 2009, he has spent his entire six-year career in Pittsburgh. Last season, however, was the first time McLendon played all 16 games since 2012.
He dealt with a shoulder injury in 2014, one that limited him to 12 games (11 starts) and underwent surgery the following offseason. He returned for the 2015 season, his contract year, and played 331 of 1,077 defensive snaps, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Steelers signed McLendon to a three-year, $7.25 million deal after two-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler Casey Hampton retired after the 2012 season. Coincidentally, Hampton’s nickname was “Big Snack.”
Now, McClendon will be filling the shoes of “Snacks,” a fan favorite of Jets fans.
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