The New York Jets are aggressively seeking to upgrade their offensive line depth this offseason, and their latest acquisition of former UFL guard Kohl Levao is a testament to their commitment.
This offseason, the Jets have focused on overhauling their offensive line, adding a trio of new starters: Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson. Additionally, they used their first-round pick to select Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. These additions aim to significantly improve an offensive line that struggled with both performance and injuries last season. However, the Jets are still on the lookout for more solutions.
Levao, who attracted interest from several NFL teams, ultimately signed a three-year, $2.8 million deal with the Jets this week. This contract is the largest given to a former UFL player this year and marks Levao’s first NFL contract, structured similarly to most undrafted deals with a standard three-year length.
Kohl Levao, originally from American Samoa, played four seasons at the University of Hawaii after two seasons at the City College of San Francisco. His experience spans both guard and center positions. Over the last two years, he has been playing for the San Antonio Brahmas, first in the XFL in 2023 and later in the UFL this past season. The 26-year-old has started 20 games at left guard for the Brahmas, establishing himself as one of the premier interior offensive linemen in spring football.
Levao’s performance has been impressive; he did not allow a single sack on over 800 pass-block snaps in the last two seasons and did not allow a QB hit in 2024. His Pro Football Focus pass-block grades were 77.3 and 74.2 for 2023 and 2024, respectively, earning him a spot on the 2024 All-UFL team.
Now, Levao has the chance to compete for a roster spot with the Jets, who have a relatively thin interior offensive line. Veteran Wes Schweitzer is currently the only backup interior offensive lineman guaranteed a roster spot. Levao will be competing against players like Jake Hanson, Xavier Newman, and tackle/guard Max Mitchell for one of the final spots.
The Jets’ ongoing efforts to bolster their offensive line this offseason have led them to the UFL, where they’ve found a promising talent in Kohl Levao. If he impresses during the summer, he has a good chance of securing a role on the team.
