Sione

Pouha

Seemingly a good fit for a 3-4 defense, Pouha has been a bust since his surprising pick in the third round of last year’s draft.

The former third-round pick has been a bust.

Re-signing the 33-year-old run stuffer is far and away the Jets’ top priority, and the sides reportedly remain in “serious negotiations.” Pouha’s age would complicate his value on the open market, but the Jets would still be best served by getting a deal wrapped up in the next 24 hours.

Locking up Pouha was the Jets’ top priority, and now he’s signed through his age-35 season. It’s a risky bet on a former draft bust who didn’t become a starter until 2009, but Pouha hasn’t missed a game since a knee injury sidelined him for all of 2006. A pure run-stuffer, Pouha graded out as the league’s top nose tackle in 2011 by Pro Football Focus, and was in the top eight in both 2009 and 2010. Paul Soliai now headlines a thin free agent nose tackle market.

Re-signing Pouha is the Jets’ top priority, and there’s yet to be an indication he’ll reach the open market. His fate will be in his own hands, however, as long as the Jets opt not to tag him ahead of Monday’s deadline. Even at the age of 33, Pouha will command a pretty penny if he reaches free agency.

It’s an impressive haul for a late-blooming defensive tackle who recently celebrated his 33rd birthday. The Jets could ill-afford to let Pouha get away, however, after he anchored an otherwise underperforming run defense in 2011. Pouha graded out as the top defensive tackle in the league by Pro Football Focus last season.

Re-signing their top in-house free agent is expected to be a priority for the Jets, but tight on cap space, they would prefer to work out a long-term deal. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets are currently “even” with the 2012 cap. Even at the age of 33, Pouha won’t come cheap after he was arguably the league’s best nose tackle in 2011.

The Jets have less than four days to sign Pouha, the team’s top priority, before the market opens. Per beat writer Rich Cimini, “there are strong indications they’ll get it done.”

Gang Green will reportedly “try hard” to re-sign Pouha before the start of free agency on March 13. Pouha graded out as Pro Football Focus’ best defensive tackle in 2011, anchoring the Jets’ 13th ranked run defense. The Jets have only raw 2011 third-round pick Kenrick Ellis as a potential in-house replacement if Pouha walks.

A normally optimistic Rex Ryan stated Monday he’s “not real sure” whether Pouha will be active. While backup Kenrick Ellis flashed some penetrating ability in preseason games, the loss of Pouha would give Fred Jackson a matchup boost and soften the Jets’ run defense. Pouha is an immovable nose tackle.