Former Jets DL is #1 DT in the NFL after winning Super Bowl 60
Former Jets DL is #1 DT in the NFL after winning Super Bowl 60
Justin Melo, Jets WireMon, July 13, 2026 at 7:15 PM UTC
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ESPN has been releasing their top-10 player lists at every position.
In a separate list conducted by the outlet, they named New York Jets defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat as the team's potential breakout candidate in 2026. They also named former Jets defender Leonard Williams the No. 1 defensive tackle in the NFL.
"Williams had never previously cracked the top five since this project's inception in 2020," NFL insider Jeremy Fowler wrote. "But he has always been a major talent, and he has maximized his contributions over the past two years in Seattle coach Mike Macdonald's defense."
The Jets selected Williams with the No. 6 overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft. The former USC standout played out a five-year rookie contract with the Jets, including a fifth-year option. Midway through his final season, instead of signing him to a contract extension, the Jets traded him to the New York Giants in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick.
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The Jets did not get terrific value back for a defensive tackle who is still considered a top-three player at his position more than five years later. The Jets used that 2020 third-round pick on safety Ashtyn Davis. The fifth-round pick was utilized on fellow safety Michael Carter II. Both players were multi-year contributors, but came nowhere near matching Williams' impact.
The Giants would later trade Williams was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The Giants got better value than the Jets did for Williams, but it still wasn't enough considering he just helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl 60.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 offseason.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Former Jets DL is #1 DT in the NFL after winning Super Bowl 60
Source: “AOL Sports”
