2015 NFL Draft: New York Jets Smartly Take Leonard Williams
In the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Jets made a smart decision taking defensive end Leonard Williams. With the No. 6 overall pick, the Jets knew they had to continue rebuilding their defense if they are to have any success this upcoming season and beyond. Williams surprisingly slipped to the Jets after plenty of mock drafts across the internet projected him to go much higher in the draft order.
At 6’5″ and 302 pounds, Williams is clearly one of the best defensive prospects in this year’s draft. He will create nightmares for opposing offensive linemen due to his tenacity and power when it comes to getting to the quarterback with precision.
More from New York Jets
- Aaron Rodgers offers perspective on the Jets offensive line
- By signing Dalvin Cook, New York Jets confirm they’re all-in
- What does Dalvin Cook bring to the New York Jets?
- Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson’s bond will lead to promising future
- New York Jets undrafted rookie receiver stealing someone’s job
It’s no secret that the Jets are having one of their best offseasons in quite some time. They’re looking to bounce back from a dismal 4-12 season in which their secondary was picked apart on a weekly basis, this despite a respectable 45 sacks, and their inability to force turnovers (13 takeaways) was stunning.
Look what Williams brings to the table. In his collegiate career at USC, he totaled 218 tackles and 21.0 sacks. Williams also picked off two passes and five forced fumbles, hence his play-making ability is something the Jets crave in a big way.
Due to how fast the NFL is these days, it’s imperative to have a top-notch pass rush if you want to remain competitive. In the case of the Jets, the AFC East is slowly but surely turning into a powerhouse once again. This division will be a tough one to be on top of once all is said and done.
The Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and the Super Bowl defending champion New England Patriots will all be much different this time around. The Jets made a great decision taking Williams since they will have to keep up with some pretty impressive quarterbacks and now they have a fighting chance at winning.
Keep in mind that if the Jets ultimately want to make a run at being a playoff-contending team, they must contain quarterback Tom Brady. He will continue being one of the greatest to ever play the game and continue to keep the Jets in check every single time he’s under center.
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Leonard Williams (Southern California) poses for a photo after being selected as the number sixth overall pick to the New York Jets in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Now with Williams in the mix, the Jets are a transformed team ready to prove they will be the ultimate rebounding team this upcoming season. With a new head coach in Todd Bowles and defensive coordinator in Kacy Rodgers, the Jets will usher in a new yet familiar era of fielding a true shut-down defensive unit.
To land a cornerstone on their defensive line in Williams, the Jets surely got a steal at the draft. If the Jets really want to make a statement, they need to beat the Patriots twice next season and show quarterback Tom Brady a thing or two as to why Williams was drafted in the first place.
Make no mistake about it, the Jets are making all the right moves to really push the envelope next season.
Next: New York Jets: NFL Nation wrong to predict 3-13 for 2015
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens