The New York Jets made the correct decision in the 2015 NFL draft when they selected defensive end Leonard Williams at No. 6 overall. Williams played out his entire rookie contract (fifth-year option included) in East Rutherford. His career with the Jets was up and down, and instead of paying him a lucrative extension, the franchise made the decision to trade him to the New York Giants for third-and-fifth-round picks.
Williams, who’s now with the Seattle Seahawks, has arguably played his best football since leaving the Jets. Nonetheless, the Jets got five quality years out of him, including a breakout sophomore campaign that concluded with a Pro Bowl appearance.
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Pro Football Focus recently conducted a 2015 redraft as part of an ongoing offseason series. In this exercise, Williams went to No. 2 overall to the Tennessee Titans, forcing the Jets to go in a different direction. The Jets end up with offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, who went one pick (No. 5) before Williams originally.
“Scherff moved from tackle to guard upon entering the NFL and quickly became one of the league’s better players at the position,” PFF wrote. “Over his first seven seasons, all with Washington, he earned an 85.6 PFF grade. Scherff has allowed more than three sacks in a season only once. While his play has declined somewhat in Jacksonville, he remains a serviceable starter well into his thirties.”
Anytime the prospect you selected goes earlier in a redraft scenario, you know you made the correct decision. The Jets ended up with Williams, the second-best player in the class. Scherff would’ve been an excellent alternative had Williams gone earlier.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: PFF: Jets go in different direction in 2015 NFL redraft