Two New York Jets superstars were named to the AP All-Pro team
Two of the best players on the New York Jets have received one of the highest honors in football.
Announced on Friday afternoon, cornerback Sauce Gardner and linebacker Quincy Williams were named to the AP All-Pro first team.
BEST CORNERBACK IN THE WORLD.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 12, 2024
QUINCY WILLIAMS IS AN ALL-PRO.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 12, 2024
Other Jets received votes for the All-Pro teams outside of Williams and Gardner. Star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams finished fifth in voting at his position and punter Thomas Morstead finished third at his. Other players receiving votes at their positions were C.J. Mosley at linebacker, Ashtyn Davis on special teams, and Michael Carter at slot corner.
Five other #Jets received at least 1 first-team vote for AP NFL All-Pro:
-DL Quinnen Williams (7) – finished 5th
-P Thomas Morstead (5) – finished 3rd
-LB C.J. Mosley (3) – finished 9th
-Special Teamer Ashtyn Davis (3) – finished 5th
-Slot CB Michael Carter II (1) – finished 6th https://t.co/uxDZZWEfWy— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) January 12, 2024
According to an article from the Jets, Williams had “139 tackles, 15 tackles for loss – tied for 12th-most – and ten passes defensed – second-most among linebackers.” Also according to the article, the Murray State product “received a defense-grade of (81.1) from PFF, the fifth-best among LBs that played at least 900 snaps.”
The linebacker is the first player at his position to record 130 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and ten passes defensed in a single season since Lavonte David in 2013.
Quincy Williams is the first player since 2013 to record at least 130 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 10 passes defensed in a single season, and just the second player since 2000. Lavonte David did so in 2013, also earning First Team All-Pro honors. @quincywilliams_ https://t.co/0TId1K97my
— NYJ Communications (@NYJetsPR) January 12, 2024
Gardner is now the first cornerback to receive AP First-Team All-Pro honors in his first two seasons since the AFL-NFL merger.
He also earned the second-highest coverage grade (90.8), allowed the second-fewest yards per cover snap (0.44), and had the third-highest forced incompletion rate (21.1%), while only allowing 325 yards.
Sauce Gardner was targeted 53 times this season, tied for the seventh-fewest targets since 2016 among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps. According to @PFF, Gardner earned the second-highest coverage grade (90.8), allowed the second-fewest yards per cover snap (0.44),… https://t.co/eve8QlDGPj
— NYJ Communications (@NYJetsPR) January 12, 2024
Sauce Gardner is the first cornerback since the AFL/NFL merger to be selected an AP First-Team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons. #Jets https://t.co/rF6V3rzpI2
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) January 12, 2024
The recognition of Williams and Gardner encapsulates the tremendous impact they made on the Jets’ defense.
Williams was a heat-seeking missile all year, making plays all over the field for New York in the run game. He also helped shut down the underneath passing game, which had hurt the team in years past.
Gardner essentially shut down one side of the field for New York this past season. Teams thought twice about throwing in his direction, and when they did, they were usually unsuccessful.
Both Williams and Gardner are critical pieces for the Jets’ defense moving forward, especially as they seek to make a playoff push in 2024. Their first-team All-Pro campaigns affirm their status as core pieces of the team’s future.
