Multiple defenders for the NY Jets were named to two different All-Pro teams that were announced on Wednesday
Some of the New York Jets’ defensive stars are getting well-deserved recognition.
On Wednesday, the PFF and Next-Gen Stats All-Pro teams were announced, and both featured key contributors from the Jets.
For the PFF All-Pro honors, superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner was named to the first team, while defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker C.J Mosely were named to the second team.
Leaders. Stars. Cornerstones.@PFF | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/9kJMk0taKd
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 10, 2024
The Next-Gen Stats All-Pro team had both Quinnen and his older brother, Quincy Williams, as recipients of the honor.
All four players awarded were more than deserving of the honors.
Quinnen, an AP All-Pro last season, followed up his 2022 campaign with an impressive 2023. The fifth-year defensive tackle was dominant in both the run game and as a pass rusher. He had a PFF run defense grade of 90.4 that ranked best out of all qualified defensive tackles. As a pass rusher, the veteran generated 70 pressures that resulted in six sacks. That pressure total only ranked behind Aaron Donald and Chris Jones, made more impressive considering he faced one of the league’s highest double-team rates at 70%, per ESPN.
Despite Quinnen’s big season, his brother Quincy may have been even better.
The Murray State product was a heat-seeking missile all over the field, racking up 139 total tackles, 10 passes defended, two forced fumbles, two sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He led all defensive players with 80 defensive stops, nine more than the closest player and 20 more than the second-closest.
In coverage, Williams only allowed 7.7 yards per reception, the eighth-lowest mark among 66 qualified linebackers (min. 500 defensive snaps).
In a similar fashion to Quinnen, Gardner had a great follow-up to his All-Pro rookie campaign.
The University of Cincinnati product only allowed 251 yards on 29 receptions, lower totals than the 33 catches for 361 yards he allowed last season. Gardner also had ten pass breakups and only yielded one touchdown.
Mosley, the captain of the Jets’ defense, ranked eighth in the NFL with 152 tackles while adding seven passes defended, two forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
Overall, these defensive stars helped make the Jets’ defense one of the best units in the league. Players like Mosley, Gardner, and the Williams brothers kept the team in games and single-handedly won a few of them.
With the return of Aaron Rodgers, the hope is that the Jets can have the other side of the ball elevated to match the defense. If stars on the offense such as Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson can garner All-Pro nods like the defenders, New York will be in a very good spot as a team in 2024.
