Jets Rumors: LB Stephone Anthony Agrees to Contract After 2 Years with Dolphins

The New York Jets are set to sign linebacker Stephone Anthony, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The 27-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins playing for now-Jets head coach Adam Gase. He also played for the New Orleans Saints for two seasons with linebackers coach Joe Vitt, who now has the same role with the Jets. 

Anthony didn't see the field much on defense last season, but was a key part of the Dolphins' special teams unit. Per Pro Football Reference, he played 78.8 percent of special teams snaps in 2018.

It's been a disappointing negative trend for the 2015 first-round pick after just four years in the NFL.

During his rookie season, Anthony started all 16 games for the Saints, leading the team with 112 tackles. Just two years later, he was traded to Miami for a fifth-round pick.

Despite his minimal impact, the signing could be important to add some depth to the linebacker core after Avery Williamson suffered a torn ACL. Darron Lee could also be missed after being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason.

The pressure is on free-agent addition C.J. Mosley to pick up a lot of slack in the middle of the defense. Rookie fifth-round pick Blake Cashman could also see playing time at inside linebacker.