While your average NFL fan may take a peek at the box scores on Monday morning to determine just how well a player is performing, anyone who takes the time to watch Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams on film knows that he’s a far better player than his pedestrian stat line (47 tackles, 2 sacks) would suggests. Now, it seems tat after watching Williams in action, the folks at Pro Football Focus would agree.
The site, which breaks down every NFL player on every NFL play and offers their analysis has placed Williams on their “Top 25 players under 25” list, saying the following about the former sixth overall pick out of USC:
16. LEONARD WILLIAMS, DI, NEW YORK JETS
Williams’ play has been incredibly consistent since being drafted in the top-10 of the 2015 draft as he is yet to record a single year-long grade under 84.8 overall. While 2017 wasn’t his best, he was still disruptive as both a pass-rusher and defending the run. Over the past two seasons, Williams has notched 37 combined sacks and hits, and among interior defenders, only Aaron Donald has more.
The Jets are hoping that by dumping malcontent defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, there will be an uptick in Williams’ production as Gang Green will no longer be in a position in which they’re essentially playing with 10 defenders.