Following Sunday’s 24-Zero loss, Joe Douglas was working the telephones.

The Jets agreed to commerce veteran defensive lineman Steve McLendon to the Buccaneers, as first reported by the Tampa Bay Occasions’ Rick Stroud. The Jets will get a sixth-round decide in 2022, whereas Tampa Bay will obtain a seventh-round decide in 2023. McLendon, in the meantime, will reunite with Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs will decide up the rest of McClendon’s $1.25 million 2020 wage.

McLendon had been the center and soul of the Jets protection and was one of many senior-most gamers on the crew. With McLendon’s departure, the Jets have now misplaced one other vocal chief within the locker room. His management was on full show this offseason, as he hosted teammates at his gymnasium in Georgia whereas groups had been making an attempt to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this level in his profession, McLendon is a space-eater and run-stuffer; he’ll be extra worthwhile on a crew like Tampa Bay, which might be among the many NFC’s high contenders going ahead. The Buccaneers knocked off the Inexperienced Bay Packers 38-10 on Sunday afternoon.

McLendon performed over 20 snaps in New York’s Week 6 loss and has a complete of 14 tackles on the season. With the Jets now 0-6, it’s seemingly the Jets need to see extra from Foley Fatukasi with the season already misplaced.