A New York Jet who has flown under the radar throughout the offseason?
Their 2025 Curtis Martin Team MVP: Isaiah Williams.
After finishing the year as one of the NFL’s top kick returners and being voted by his teammates as the team MVP, Williams’ name has sort of gotten lost in the shuffle this offseason.
Speaking to the media after Tuesday’s practice, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn raved about the 25-year-old.
“He’s a dude,” said Glenn. “Just watch how he blocks and competes.”
While people often tout his returning ability, which is his bread and butter, he played a rather sizeable role on the team’s offense last season.
In 15 games last year (two starts), he hauled in 26 of his 36 targets for 193 yards while playing the second-most snaps in the slot among Gang Green’s pass catchers at 147 (66.8% of Williams’ routes run).
Throughout Weeks 6-18, he led 25 qualified returners (minimum 25 returns) in Pro Football Focus’ return grade, tallying a 91.2 mark over that span. He also averaged the highest yards per kick return (31.3) and tied with Tennessee’s Chimere Dike for the most punt return touchdowns (two).
While his role on special teams should remain constant, it will be difficult for him to cut out a primary offensive role this season. After New York revamped their pass-catching corps this year, there are only so many targets to go around.
The back end of the Jets’ WR depth chart even got more competitive with the addition of veteran Tim Patrick.
Overall, though, Glenn seems to be impressed with Williams’ work ethic, which bodes well for the former Cincinnati Bengal.
His offensive role, however, remains a question mark as the preseason approaches, where his workload could begin to take shape.
