NFL Draft Update: NY Jets Score Defensive End Leonard Williams

By Cheri Cheng - 01 May '15 12:54PM

The New York Jets, who had the No. 6 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, managed to score defensive end Leonard Williams. Williams was considered by many to have the best overall talent out of all the players in the draft. The playmaker out of USC will bulk up the Jets' front line alongside Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson.

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan stated that he and head coach Todd Bowles were shocked to see that Williams was still available.

"I don't think any mock draft had Leonard going beyond (No.) 5. Like, literally, none," Maccagnan said right after they picked the 6-foot-5, 300-pound player. "We were kind of surprised he actually fell to us. He was too good a value for us to pass on at that point in time."

Maccagnan stated that Williams was one of the three guys on their list. He did not name the other two players, but noted that they had already been picked.

"In this case, we took the best player available. It could have been an offensive guy," Bowles said. "We weren't trying to compensate for the quarterback or not compensate for the quarterback. We were just trying to pick the highest player available. I think when you pick that high, you can't go for need and reach before a guy who is more athletic and a lot better than the guy that you are trying to reach for."

Williams added, reported by CBS Local New York, "It was a big surprise to me. Knowing that it got to the jets and their pick was on the line, I thought they were going to go for someone on offense because the Jets are already known for having such a great D-line."

The 20-year-old athlete noted that playing with a team that has strong defense could only improve his game. At USC, Williams started in 35 games and recorded 218 career tackles, 21 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

The Jets have selected a defensive prospect in the first round of the draft for the sixth consecutive time.

Williams revealed that when he first met Bowles during the draft process, Bowles had told him that they would pick him if he was still available and it sure looks like Bowles kept his word.