Sherwood became the poster boy of the Jets' underperforming defense in 2025, but that perception of his season isn't entirely fair. He undeniably struggled in coverage, allowing 11.3 yards per reception and 79.7 percent of the targets against him to be converted into completions. Sherwood has largely been poor in pass coverage throughout his career, which does open up some risk of diminished playing time in 2026 -- particularly due to the addition of DeMario Davis, who still excels in coverage despite his advanced age. In contrast, Sherwood remained a strong defender against the run and the Jets lack proven depth to consistently take him off the field. Both Sherwood and the Jets have attempted to publicly turn the page on his 2025 season, but there is an element of risk when selecting him as an IDP starter entering the 2026 campaign.