Drafting Quinnen Williams was right move for Jets

The New York Jets selected Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and it certainly was the right move to make.

With the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and a plethora of holes to fill, the New York Jets had a few different options to consider during the first round of this year’s draft, which took place last Thursday, April 25 in Nashville, TN.

With a desperate need at the edge rusher position, it would have made a ton of sense for the Jets to select Kentucky’s Josh Allen. During a highly impressive senior season, Allen totaled 88 tackles, 21.5 for a loss and a whopping 17 sacks. During his collegiate career as a whole, the 21-year-old picked up 42 tackles for loss and 31.5 sacks.

A relentless athlete, Allen served primarily as an edge rusher at Kentucky and proved time and time again that he had the ability to effectively rush the passer. The Jets haven’t had a player who could do that at a high level since John Abraham was traded to the Atlanta Falcons nearly 15 years ago.

In addition, many believe that Allen may also possess the ability to drop into coverage, which, if true, will make him a well-rounded force for years to come.

Aside from Allen, there were also rumors swirling prior to the draft indicating that the Jets were interested in defensive lineman Ed Oliver, who played his collegiate ball at the University of Houston. Despite being a tremendous athlete and having a relatively successful college career, Oliver’s size and injury history had concerned some. It would’ve been hard for the Jets to justify selecting him at No. 3.

Ultimately, Gang Green went with Williams and it appears to have been the right move. Allen may have filled a larger void, but Williams is a player that many consider to have been the very best in this year’s draft regardless of position.

Plus, the Jets did address the need at edge rusher in the third round when the team selected Florida’s Jachai Polite. And as for Oliver, it just wouldn’t have been smart to select him over Williams.

Standing 6 ft. 3 in. tall and weighing in at 303 lbs., Williams is a high-level athlete that many see as a game changer. As an interior lineman, he’s proven to be extremely talented in playing against the run, while also being incredibly aggressive and relentless in rushing opposing quarterbacks.

During the 2018 season, Williams totaled 71 tackles, 19.5 for loss and eight sacks in addition to being named an All-American and being the recipient of the Outland Trophy. Overall, he should work well alongside Leonard Williams and he should be a good fit under new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Simply put, he appears to be too good of a prospect for the Jets to have passed up on. Sure, he didn’t fill the Jets’ need at the edge and the team didn’t exactly need to add another lineman, but, at times, going with the best player available is the best bet. That’s exactly what the Jets did and the team can’t be faulted for that.