Jets' Damon Harrison: 'I feel like I'm the best nose tackle in football'
The New York Jets boast arguably the NFL's best defensive front heading into the 2015 season, and the most underrated member of the elite-level unit knows he can help lead the way in the middle.
Speaking with Conor Orr of Around the NFL on Tuesday, nose tackle Damon Harrison suggested the considerable progression he's enjoyed over the first few years of his pro career makes him the best player at his position in the game today.
"If you would have asked me after my first year starting about how I am as a player, I would have given you a humble answer. Not too confident but humble," Harrison said. "But when you ask me now, I feel like I'm the best nose tackle in football. If you look at a nose tackle's job description, nobody does it better than me and I'm confident in saying that."
While Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, and first-round pick Leonard Williams will continue to get the majority of the attention at defensive end, Harrison's near-immovable presence in the middle is key to the Jets fielding one of the league's stingiest run defenses.
The 26-year-old may still have some competition for that No. 1 spot among the other nose tackles around the league, but if he hasn't already established himself as the top player at the position, he's certainly not far off as he heads into his fourth year.
"I've watched Vince Wilfork my entire life. Dontari Poe, Haloti Ngata even though he moves around. Paul Soliai, I watch everyone because you can always take something from someone," Harrison continued. "But it's my time now."
In the two seasons since he took over the full-time starting role, Harrison's impact has helped lead the Jets to third- and fifth-ranked finishes against the run.
Tentatively set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent next offseason, another year even approaching that level of dominance would give the Jets no choice but to lock Harrison up to a long-term deal in line with his increasingly apparent talent.