The New York Jets defensive line just got an appreciable upgrade, with the team selecting lineman Leonard Williams with the sixth pick in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL draft.
Williams, alongside fellow defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, will give the Jets added ammunition against both the run and the pass. This selection could also mean that Wilkerson is indeed on the trade block.
Williams was thought by many onlookers to be the best player in the 2015 draft class, despite not being taken first-overall. Williams played all along USC’s defensive line in college and can be an effective end or tackle for the Jets, and should be a contributor from Day 1. He doesn’t just possess plus size, speed and athleticism, but he also has well-developed technique and an obvious passion for the game.
In three years at USC, Williams amassed 218 combined tackles, 36.5 tackles for a loss and 21 sacks. He also added two interceptions, eight passes defensed and five forced fumbles.
Williams dominates the line of scrimmage, exhibiting an impressive ability to defend the run and rush the passer from both the inside and the outside of the line. Add in a high motor, a strong work ethic and toughness and it’s hard to find any flaws in the Jets’ decision to draft him.
Photo: USA Today Sports