Seattle Seahawks veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams aged like fine wine throughout the 2024 season. In his 12th professional campaign, Williams recorded 11.0 sacks, the second-most of his career (11.5, 2020). He hit the ground running in Mike Macdonald’s defense, leading all NFL interior lineman in QB takedowns, outperforming talents like Chris Jones, Quinnen Williams, Dexter Lawrence, and Jeffery Simmons at his position.
Williams was downright dominant. The former No. 6 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft totaled 55 pressures. Williams’ form was recently recognized by Pro Football Focus, as the aging defender was named to their “Top 30 players over 30” list.
“Williams delivered the best season of his career at age 30, earning a personal-best 87.1 PFF grade, fourth among qualified defensive tackles,” Dalton Wasserman wrote. “It marked just the second time in his career that he posted at least a 70.0 grade in both run defense and pass rushing.”
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Williams cracked the list at No. 21 overall. His eye-popping 2024 campaign earned him his first Pro Bowl nod since 2016. Williams signed a three-year, $64.5 million contract extension with the Seahawks last March. He earned every penny of that extension, and the Seahawks will be pleased to have him under contract through 2026.
Williams projects as another big-time difference maker for Macdonald’s defense in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: 30 Top NFL players over 30: Seahawks’ Leonard Williams makes list