NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS May 1, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Jets take Leonard Williams with No. 6 pick in NFL draft (Dennis Waszak)... 2 Jets could go several directions during Day 2 of NFL draft (Dennis Waszal)... 3 NEWSDAY... 4 Jets take defensive star Leonard Williams with sixth pick in NFL Draft (Kimberly Martin)... 4 Jets hit pick-6 lotto when Leonard Williams falls to them (Bob Glauber)... 5 THE RECORD... 6 Jets draft USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams at No. 6 (JP Pelzman)... 6 New York Jets players ascend to Glen Meadow M.S. in Vernon (Jessica Hansen)... 7 Sullivan: Jets, Giants go large with No. 1 picks (Tara Sullivan)... 8 ESPN NEW YORK Jets take defensive lineman Leonard Williams with No. 6 overall pick (Rich Cimini) Total breakdown: Jets draft DT Leonard Williams in first round (Rich Cimini) Mo Wilkerson loses leverage, but Jets gain hellacious defensive front (Rich Cimini) NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Leonard Williams says Todd Bowles told him he'd draft him if Jets could get him (Dom Cosentino) NFL Draft 2015: How surprised was Leonard Williams that he fell out of top five, to Jets? (Darryl Slater) What's the latest on Jets draft pick Leonard Williams' injured shoulder? (Darryl Slater) Leonard Williams is a steal for Jets GM Mike Maccagnan (Steve Politi) How will Leonard Williams fit Jets' defensive scheme Instant analysis (Dom Cosentino) What does Jets drafting Leonard Williams mean for Muhammad Wilkerson? (Darryl Slater) NEW YORK POST Can the Jets defense now be the best in the NFL? (Steve Serby) Jets steal USC pass-rushing stud Leonard Williams at No. 6 (Brian Costello) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Leonard Williams falls in Jets' lap, but Geno Smith is still their quarterback (Gary Myers) New Jets GM Mike Maccagnan sticks to the NFL draft plan with Leonard Williams selection (Manish Mehta) With 6th pick in NFL Draft, Jets select defensive tackle Leonard Williams (Seth Walder) NEW YORK TIMES Jets Add to a Strength, Taking Leonard Williams, a Defender Surprisingly Still Available (Ben Shpigel) METRO NEW YORK Draft machine: Jets to take Melvin Gordon (Kristian Dyer) P a g e

2 Jets get steal with Leonard Williams at 6 (Kristian Dyer) THURSDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Jets take Leonard Williams with No. 6 pick in NFL draft (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press April 30, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Jets were stunned Leonard Williams was still available when they went on the clock for their first draft pick. So, general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles jumped at the chance to add another big playmaker to their formidable defensive line. The Jets selected the defensive lineman from Southern California with the sixth overall pick Thursday night. "I don't think any mock draft had Leonard going beyond (No.) 5," Maccagnan said shortly after the Jets selected Williams. "Like, literally, none." The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Williams will team with fellow first-rounders Muhammad Wilkerson (2011) and Sheldon Richardson (2013) on Bowles' front line that also includes solid nose tackle Damon Harrison. "It was a big surprise to me," Williams said during a conference call from Chicago, where he was attending the draft. "Knowing that it got to the Jets and their pick was on the line, I thought they were going to go for someone on offense because the Jets are already known for having such a great D-line." Maccagnan talked to other teams including all five in front of the Jets about possible trades, but New York stayed put and took a player whom many considered the best overall talent in the draft. "We gave it the full allotment of time to see what teams would call and inquire," Maccagnan said. "At the end of the day, we never really got any offer to move out of the pick that we felt good about." Williams said when he met Bowles during the draft process, the coach told him that the Jets would pick him if he was still somehow available when the team went on the clock. "He stayed (true) to his word," Williams said. "I appreciated that." Maccagnan revealed that Williams was among the top three players on the Jets' board and said the other two without naming them had already been selected. "We were kind of surprised he actually fell to us," Maccagnan said. "He was too good a value for us to pass on at that point in time." The selection marked the sixth straight season the Jets have taken a defensive player with their first pick. It's also the fifth time the Jets had the sixth overall pick, and first since they took defensive end Vernon Gholston in Williams, who turns 21 in June, had 218 career tackles in college in 35 starts, and routinely caused problems for quarterbacks and offensive coordinators with 21 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. "He has a huge ceiling," Maccagnan said. "He's just scratching the surface." 2 P a g e

3 Williams' ability to play either at end or tackle made him an attractive option for the Jets, who will mostly run out of a 3-4 base defense under Bowles but will tailor that depending on the opponent. "I think it's really cool to be coming at such a young age and as a rookie to have such great D-linemen to model my game after," Williams said. Williams had surgery on his right shoulder after his sophomore season with the Trojans, but said there are no issues with it. He played every game last season, although he didn't do any lifting at the NFL combine. "That hasn't been a problem for me, or even a question," Williams said. The Jets attended his pro day at USC, and then brought him to the team's facility for a visit. "Obviously, his play spoke for itself," Bowles said. "But when he got here, just meeting the young man and seeing how mature he was, and how full of life he was and the great attitude he had and passion for playing football, that kind of connected with me." Both Maccagnan and Bowles insisted that the decision to take Williams would not have any bearing on the future of Wilkerson, who has been sitting out voluntary workouts while waiting to get a new deal. Wilkerson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and could be in for a big payday. "Right now, Muhammad's on our team," Maccagnan said. "I'm not going to speculate. We're not actively trying to shop Muhammad." The Jets certainly have good depth on their line now with the addition of Williams, who was selected as USC's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year after his junior season. He was also a firstteam All-Pac-12 selection, and a finalist for the Hendricks Award, given to college football's top defensive end. Williams, who lives in Daytona Beach, Florida, said his family was hoping he'd go to a Florida-area team so he could stay closer to home or a California team since he was born there and played his college ball there. "Either way, going to the Jets, they're so proud of me," Williams said. "It was really exciting to see them put on their Jets hats and to see all of those guys in green and white, it was pretty cool." Jets could go several directions during Day 2 of NFL draft (Dennis Waszal) Associated Press May 1, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) After adding to their already-formidable defensive line in the first round, the New York Jets head into the second day of the NFL draft with plenty of options. The Jets have the fifth pick in the second round (No. 37 overall) and the sixth selection (No. 70) in the third Friday. New York drafted USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams with the No. 6 overall pick Thursday night. Williams will team with fellow first-rounders Muhammad Wilkerson (2011) and Sheldon Richardson (2013) on coach Todd Bowles' D-line that also includes nose tackle Damon Harrison. 3 P a g e

4 New York could look to add depth at linebacker, offensive line or take one of the top remaining quarterbacks UCLA's Brett Hundley or Baylor's Bryce Petty to compete with Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Simms. NEWSDAY Jets take defensive star Leonard Williams with sixth pick in NFL Draft (Kimberly Martin) Newsday May 1, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Mike Maccagnan stayed true to his plan of taking the best player available, and the Jets wound up being the big winners on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. Somehow, Leonard Williams fell down the board Thursday night, first slipping past Jacksonville, then Oakland and, surprisingly, Washington. The USC defensive lineman, whom many draft experts considered the most talented player in the entire draft class, was right there for the taking, and Maccagnan didn't waste any time pulling the trigger. "We were kind of surprised he fell to us," he said. "He was, basically, too good of a value to pass on at that point in time." Williams was in the top three on the Jets' board. No one -- not even Williams -- could believe the Jets wound up taking him. "It was a big surprise for me," the 20-year-old said on a conference call. "I thought they were going to go for someone on the offense or something like that just because the Jets are already known for having such a D-line. So I was really surprised, but also really excited to be a part of their great tradition and great D-line." Williams, who said he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder after the 2013 season, said he wasn't panicking about slipping a few spots. "Not much was going through my mind," said Williams, who had 80 tackles and seven sacks in "I expected anything because you can never trust the mock drafts." Despite his innate ability, the pick raised eyebrows because of Muhammad Wilkerson's contract situation. The addition of Williams -- who had 218 tackles (including 361/2 for losses), 21 sacks and two interceptions in his three-year college career -- felt like a vintage Rex Ryan move. The Jets have used six straight firstround selections on defense. Their defensive line was a major strength, thanks to the play of Wilkerson, the 30th overall pick in 2011; Sheldon Richardson, the 2013 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and nose tackle Damon Harrison. But Maccagnan insisted the Jets aren't "actively" shopping Wilkerson, though he admitted "everyone puts out feelers" to gauge team needs and interests. Wilkerson's camp and the Jets have been trying to reach an agreement on an extension since last season. He is due to earn $6.96 million this season, well below the salary of star defensive linemen. Maccagnan said he anticipates that he and coach Todd Bowles will reach out to Wilkerson. 4 P a g e

5 Even if the Jets don't trade Wilkerson, they have the leverage in contract talks because they can place the franchise tag on him next year. Bowles insisted you never can have too much of a good thing -- especially on the defensive line. "Leonard was the best guy on our board," Bowles said when asked if the decision to build up the defensive line was an attempt to offset their quarterback deficiencies. "We weren't trying to compensate for the quarterback or not compensate." Said Maccagnan: "When you look through all the mock drafts, his name consistently came up in the first three or four or five picks in the draft...he's a very big, physically talented, very young player. So we feel he has a very, very big upside and a lot of potential. It was a fairly easy decision to make." Jets hit pick-6 lotto when Leonard Williams falls to them (Bob Glauber) Newsday April 30, CHICAGO - First came the free-agency cleanup, when rookie general manager Mike Maccagnan chose his targets wisely, threw a bunch of Woody Johnson cash at them and fixed his beleaguered secondary within a week. And now this: With his first draft pick, Maccagnan came away with a steal Thursday night. Which is saying something when you've got the No. 6 pick. But getting USC defensive end Leonard Williams at that spot was something no one could have expected. Not with all the effusive words of praise that came Williams' way from scouts and coaches who see him as a big-time talent who can get to the quarterback as effectively as he can bring down runners. He's the kind of all-around talent who would be the No. 1 overall pick in some drafts, a player whom defensiveminded coaches can build their schemes around. Maccagnan can thank Oakland and Washington for making it happen. Once the Raiders decided that they valued Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper over Williams, the door cracked open for Maccagnan. And then came the shocker: Washington's own rookie GM, Scot McCloughan, decided to take Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. The move was a head-scratcher, especially given that Washington needed help with its pass rush. That decision paved the way for Maccagnan to get the most complete defensive player in the draft. Williams is the kind of player who can turn around a game with a sack or a punishing hit on a running back. He's good enough that opposing offensive coordinators need to account for him on every play -- and do their best to run that play away from Williams' side. Now you put him on a defense that already is stout along the line with Sheldon Richardson and Mo Wilkerson, and you've got the best collective three-man line in the league. New Jets coach Todd Bowles likes to use a 3-4 defense, but with that many quality linemen, he will surely think about running some 4-3 alignments. And with the back end solidified thanks to the free-agent signings of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine and safety Marcus Gilchrist, the Jets' defense has taken a quantum leap forward since the end of last season. 5 P a g e

6 Wilkerson's uncertain contract situation throws a potential complication into the situation. He is looking for a deal similar to the eight-year, $108.9-million contract that J.J. Watt signed, and that's not going to happen. That doesn't mean Wilkerson will walk quietly into the season with the final year of his deal calling for a $6.9-million salary. He's not attending voluntary workouts in the offseason and could stage a holdout in training camp. But now is not the time for Maccagnan to blink on a Wilkerson contract demand, especially given that his leverage may have just declined now that Williams is on board. In fact, there still is a chance Wilkerson will be traded; reports in recent days indicated that teams have inquired about Wilkerson's availability. So one way or another, the Wilkerson situation will work itself out. The Jets will be in a much better situation if he's signed long term, but they also have to be mindful of other salary-cap considerations. And if a team is willing to give up a first-round pick for the defensive end, Maccagnan will have to give that serious consideration. In the meantime, Maccagnan and Bowles can celebrate a major draft-day victory by coming away with a terrific prospect. A three-year starter for USC, the 6-5, 300-pound defender had a combined 218 tackles and 21 sacks. He had three forced fumbles in 2014 and added an interception and three passes defensed. You don't produce those kinds of numbers without being a terrific all-around player, and Williams is just that. Now it's Bowles' turn to fold Williams into his defensive scheme and watch him contribute to a defense that no doubt will be the strength of the first-year coach's team. THE RECORD Jets draft USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams at No. 6 (JP Pelzman) The Record April 30, FLORHAM PARK The Jets will play Washington this season on Oct. 18 at MetLife Stadium. Perhaps they should present the Redskins with a thank you card at that time. Jets first-round draft pick Leonard Williams Position: Defensive end/tackle College: USC Height/Weight: 6-5/300 Scouting report: Dominating player considered best overall talent in draft by many experts. Projects as end in 3-4 base and as tackle when Jets use 4-3 fronts. Declared for draft after junior season. Already a big-time run stuffer and can improve as pass-rusher even though he had seven sacks last season. Washington took Iowa offensive tackle Brandon Scherff with the fifth overall selection Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft in Chicago, paving the way for the Jets to select Southern California defensive lineman Leonard Williams with the sixth pick. 6 P a g e

7 The Jets have taken two star defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson (2011) and Sheldon Richardson (2013) in the first round of the draft in the past five years, and obviously believe they got another one this time around. Williams, who had 80 tackles and seven sacks for the Trojans as a junior last season, was the best player [available] on our board, first-year general manager Mike Maccagnan said. We felt kind of surprised he actually fell to us and felt it was too good a value to pass on. Maccagnan added the Jets thought it was a bit of a long shot for Williams to fall to them, noting he was one of the top three players on their draft board. Maccagnan stuck to his philosophy of selecting the best player available instead of reaching for a player at a position of need. He indicated the Jets mission is to add good players to this organization and players that can be impactful and help us win games. You can never have enough good players, especially on the defensive line. Still, it certainly seems as if the Jets, who use a base 3-4 defense, now have a surplus of players with Wilkerson, Richardson and run-stuffing nose tackle Damon Harrison, who re-signed earlier this week as a restricted free agent. Wilkerson, who is seeking a contract extension, has skipped voluntary conditioning and practices so far this spring, and the selection of Williams raises the possibility the Jets could be in the market to trade him to another team. Wilkerson is entering the final year of his contract. We re not actively trying to shop Muhammad, Maccagnan said when asked about Wilkerson. At this point right now, he s part of us and at some point in time, we re going to talk to him and his agent [Chad Wiestling]. When asked if he expected to get a deal done with Wilkerson, Maccagnan replied, I would hope so but time will tell. Being drafted by the Jets was a big surprise, Williams said on a conference call. I m excited to be part of such a great D-line. He said his goal is not really to prove other teams wrong but to prove the Jets right. I want them to be really proud of their decision. Williams will turn 21 in June, but coach Todd Bowles said he was impressed with how mature he was when the Jets had him in for a visit. Maccagnan and the Jets took the full 10 minutes to make the selection, fielding offers from other teams that wanted to trade up. But Maccagnan indicated none of those offers was attractive enough. The Jets also chose not to trade up for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who was taken by Tennessee with the second pick. That non-move is a vote of confidence for incumbent signal-caller Geno Smith, selected in the second round in 2013 by John Idzik, Maccagnan s predecessor. The Jets have selected a defensive player with their last seven first-round picks and haven t taken anyone on offense in that round since they made a draft-day trade with Cleveland in 2009 to select quarterback Mark Sanchez in the first round, moving up 11 spots to No. 5 overall. New York Jets players ascend to Glen Meadow M.S. in Vernon (Jessica Hansen) The Record May 1, P a g e

8 Glen Meadow Middle School was recognized for its health initiatives and participation in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture s (NJDA) Jets PLAY 60 "Eat Right, Move More" program. The school, which was one of four first-place prize winners, welcomed New York Jets tight end Chris Pantale and punter Ryan Quigley on April 24, who spoke to students about getting exercise and practicing healthy eating. The NJDA and Jets players also presented Dr. Pauline Anderson, principal of Glen Meadow, with a check for $5,000, which can be put towards health-oriented purchases for the school. Arleen Ramos-Szatmary, school nutrition coordinator for the NJDA, congratulated the school and commended students efforts to "eat healthy and exercise more." Both players explained the importance of staying healthy, especially in the field of professional sports. Pantale encouraged students to maintain wellness at a young age and said that both eating healthy and getting adequate exercise are "crucial to the development of your body." Quigley advised students not to skip breakfast and recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise to stay active. "Try to hit all of the food groups, and get as many colors as you can on your plate," he said. The players also engaged in a trivia session with students and awarded those who answered questions correctly with autographed Jets memorabilia, including footballs and hats. Bumper stickers and key chains were also handed out to all students in their homeroom classes. In order to participate in the Jets PLAY 60 Challenge, a minimum of 100 students participated in at least one hour of physical activity for a period of four weeks. Approximately 102 Glen Meadow students were selected by physical education teachers and logged their physical activity throughout the duration of the challenge. In addition to encouraging physical activity, Glen Meadow has made healthy eating strides by receiving locally-grown produce via Sodexo, a food service management company, and offers students a fresh "veggie bar" on a daily basis. Anderson plans to use a portion of the prize money to acquire a portable greenhouse in which students will be able to grow fresh produce. The money will also be used to purchase DeskCycles, which allow students to pedal flywheels to get additional exercise throughout the school day. Sullivan: Jets, Giants go large with No. 1 picks (Tara Sullivan) The Record May 1, FLORHAM PARK The New York football trenches had better carve out some extra room: There are two big guys coming to town. Jets first-round pick defensive lineman Leonard Williams from USC is excited after being selected Thursday night. On an NFL Draft night that opened with its first round Thursday from Chicago, the Jets and the Giants each added a supersized human being to their roster, the Jets taking 6-foot-5, 302-pound defensive end/tackle Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick and the Giants selecting 6-6, 329-pound offensive tackle Ereck Flowers three spots later. 8 P a g e

9 In laying such strong, physical foundations for their respective futures Giants scouting director Marc Ross called Flowers a man-child and many talent evaluators called Williams the best, most NFL-ready player in the draft the Jets and Giants turned the page from a disappointing 2014 and toward what they believe is a more hopeful future. Was it really only four months ago when last we left the field with these two teams and so much uncertainty and disappointment hung over their heads, when one coaching regime was about to be fired and the other was hanging on for dear life? There were no playoff berths, no happy endings, no more time for Jets coach Rex Ryan and no more wiggle room for Tom Coughlin. Thus did two franchises arrive at draft day sharing company among the Top 10 selectors, otherwise known as the section of the draft where bad teams go for help. They came out of the first round with two new building blocks, though Williams might find his fight to get a spot on the field a little more daunting than Flowers. If the Jets new power duo of GM Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles taught us anything with their selection of Williams, the defensive standout from USC, it is that they were telling the truth that talent would outweigh need. How else do you explain adding a defensive end to a 3-4 scheme that already includes Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson and Damon Harrison? How else do you justify using a first-round pick on a defensive player for the seventh straight time, even when your franchise is lacking a franchise quarterback and could still use weapons for the average ones who are here? Perhaps the better question is this: How do you explain Williams still being available at No. 6, a stunning fall out of the top five that none of the countless mock drafts saw coming? When that happened, the Jets could barely contain their excitement, envisioning one of the best defensive lines in the NFL getting even more dangerous with this addition. We thought it was a bit of a long shot [that he d be there], but when it presented itself, it was back to our basic philosophy of adding as many good players as possible, Maccagnan said afterward. We are obviously very, very excited about that. Basically at the end of the day he was the best player on our board. We were surprised he was available to us. He was the best value at that time. As new GMs go, Maccagnan is doing a pretty good job of displaying his value, too. Though just about anyone would look better than John Idzik, author of a disastrous two-year reign, Maccagnan followed through with his promise to use free agency and trades to fill needs (signing the return of cornerback duo Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and trading for Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall) and then turning to the draft to get the best player available. It was a big surprise to me, knowing when I got to the Jets and their pick was on the line, I thought they d go on offense, because they re already known for having such a good D-line, Williams said from Chicago, speaking on a conference call with reporters who were at the Jets practice facility. I was surprised but I m also very excited to be part of that defensive line. I know I ll be a defensive end, it s really cool to be part of a D-line that s young, really cool to be coming in at such a young age and have great D-linemen to model my game after. I don t know where I ll fit in but I ll leave that up to the coaches. I just want to prove, not really to prove other teams wrong but to prove the Jets right. I want them to be proud of their decision. The Giants clearly needed to bolster their offensive line, and with the addition of Flowers, who brings an on-field attitude observers alternately describe as tough, mean and angry, they hope to improve the protection for veteran QB Eli Manning. After last year s breakout success with first-round pick Odell 9 P a g e

10 Beckham Jr., the next best favor GM Jerry Reese and Co. could do for Manning is to protect him while he tries to connect with his standout wide receiver. When the Redskins jumped on Iowa lineman Brandon Scherff with the fifth overall pick, removing perhaps the Giants top target on their draft board, Flowers was an easy next choice. We always talk about we re going to take the best player, but we re always cognizant of what our need is as well and we think this is a good need and a value pick for us, Reese said. We think this can help solidify the offensive line, so hopefully this will settle the offensive line down and we don t have to keep talking about the offensive line as much. Obviously he s a gigantic human being. He was the strongest guy at the combine. We think he can be a longtime tackle for the New York Giants. ESPN NEW YORK Jets take defensive lineman Leonard Williams with No. 6 overall pick (Rich Cimini) ESPN.com May 1, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- For the fourth time in the last five years, the New York Jets used a firstround choice on a defensive lineman, selecting former USC star Leonard Williams with the sixth pick in Thursday night's NFL draft. General manager Mike Maccagnan said he was "kind of surprised" that Williams, regarded by many as the top player in the draft, fell to the Jets. Williams, too, said he was surprised, mostly because he didn't expect to be picked by the Jets, who have a surplus of defensive linemen. Their first-round picks on the line were Muhammad Wilkerson (2011),Quinton Coples (2012) and Sheldon Richardson (2013). The Jets walked away with Leonard Williams, the best defensive player in the NFL draft. The big question now is how long of a future Muhammad Wilkerson has with the team. The addition of Williams raises questions about the future of Wilkerson, who is entering the final year of his contract and is skipping voluntary workouts. Before the draft, the Jets fielded calls from at least two teams interested in trading for Wilkerson. That interest should increase. The Jets are expected to listen to offers, a league source said Thursday night. "Right now, Muhammad is on our team," Maccagnan said after the Williams pick. "We're not going to speculate. We're not going to actively shop Muhammad at this point. Right now, he's a part of us." Asked if he hopes to sign Wilkerson to a long-term extension, Maccagnan said, "I hope so." 10 P a g e

11 Maccagnan, running his first draft, picked Williams after having exploratory talks with the Tennessee Titans, who held the No. 2 pick. Maccagnan said they never got serious because the Titans were seeking "a very large offer" for the pick, which they eventually used to select quarterback Marcus Mariota. Contrary to speculation, the Jets weren't interested in Mariota, sources said. They stayed at No. 6 and watched as Williams fell into their laps. He was one of the top three players on their board, according to Maccagnan. New coach Todd Bowles wore a poker face to the post-pick news conference, but he was thrilled to add a player of Williams' caliber. "I'm excited," he said. "I know it doesn't look like it on my face, but I'm really excited." Williams took a pre-draft visit about two weeks ago, during which time he got a sense from the Jets they'd pick him if he fell. Still, it caught him off guard. "It was a big surprise to me," he said. "When the pick was on the line, I thought they were going to go for someone on offense just because the Jets are already known for having such a great defensive line. I was really surprised, but also very excited." Bowles said he clicked with Williams on the visit. "Obviously, his play speaks for itself," he said. "But when we got him here, just to meet the young man and see how mature he was and how full of life he was... the great attitude and the passion to play football, that connected with me." Williams, who turns 21 in June, was a three-year starter for the Trojans. He recorded 21 sacks and 36.5 tackles-for-loss, establishing himself as arguably the top defensive player in the draft. Despite the numbers on the defensive line, Bowles said he has no plans to switch his scheme; they will play a 3-4 front. The starters last season were Richardson, Wilkerson and nose tackle Damon Harrison, with Coples as the rush linebacker. "You can never have too many defensive linemen," Bowles said. Total breakdown: Jets draft DT Leonard Williams in first round (Rich Cimini) ESPN.com May 1, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- A few quick thoughts on the New York Jets' first-round draft pick: The pick: Leonard Williams, DT, USC My take: Wow, the Jets have a scary defensive line. Obviously, they didn't need a defensive lineman -- it's their strongest unit -- but they couldn't pass on Williams, who unexpectedly tumbled to the sixth pick. He's regarded by many teams as the No. 1 prospect in the draft. New general manager Mike Maccagnan preaches the best-player-available credo, and he backed it up by grabbing Williams instead of reaching 11 P a g e

12 for a need. Remarkably, the Jets have used their last seven first-round picks on defensive players, including four linemen -- Muhammad Wilkerson, Quinton Coples, Sheldon Richardson and Williams. Overcrowded line: The obvious question is, what happens to Wilkerson? He could become a trade chip. Several teams expressed interest in him before the draft, and that interest figures to intensify, given the Jets' surplus of defensive linemen. Wilkerson is entering the final year of his contract and is looking to become one of the highest-paid linemen in the league. He's unhappy with the pace of negotiations and is sitting out the voluntary workouts. It would be a shame to trade arguably one of their top two players, but you can't pay everybody in a salary-cap era. Maccagnan said, "We're not actively trying to shop Muhammad," but that's just semantics. Know this: They're listening. Something has to give. Lucky Jets: Williams was rated among the top three players on their draft board, according to Maccagnan. He wouldn't reveal the other two, but it's believed linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and wide receiver Amari Cooper were the others. Despite intense speculation, the Jets had no interest in quarterback Marcus Mariota. How often do the Jets, with their sad drafting history, experience this kind of good fortune? Almost never. Williams (6-foot-5, 302 pounds) is a Pro Bowl-caliber talent. He's still not a finished product, but he has tremendous size and physical skill. In 39 games at USC, he recorded 21 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss. He had arthroscopic shoulder surgery after the 2013 season, which reportedly concerned some teams. Said one NFC scout: "I'm not saying he's Reggie White, but this kid comes to play. He's 295-plus and he can move. He can be a great one." Coach Todd Bowles said he's not changing his plans; he'll play a 3-4 scheme, which means Wilkerson, Richardson, Williams and nose tackle Damon Harrison will be in a rotation -- if they keep 'em all. Mo Wilkerson loses leverage, but Jets gain hellacious defensive front (Rich Cimini) ESPN.com May 1, FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets walked away Thursday night with the best defensive player in the NFL draft, and all they had to do was... well, nothing. The draft gods, who have tortured the Jets for decades, finally decided to smile on the star-crossed franchise. Say hello to USC's Leonard Williams, a 20- year-old defensive lineman with a ceiling higher than Grand Central Terminal. Despite a surplus of linemen, the Jets couldn't pass on Williams. When you're a championship-starved team -- heck, a playoff-starved team -- you don't thumb your nose at an elite prospect just because he happens to play at a stacked position. You don't look a gift Trojan in the mouth. You grab him and worry about the questions later. And there will be questions, especially about the future of Muhammad Wilkerson, who is unofficially on the trading block. General manager Mike Maccagnan, who proved in his first draft effort that he really does believe in taking the best player available, claimed "we're not actively going to shop Muhammad at this point." That's semantics, of course. The Jets are willing to listen to offers; they've already fielded calls, before and during the first round. But they shouldn't trade Wilkerson. Only 25, he's one of the top young defensive ends in the league and he's under contract for another year at a manageable $6.9 million. You keep Wilkerson for 2015, allowing the "Sons of Anarchy" to remain intact -- Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Damon Harrison. With Williams joining the group, the Jets have their best defensive line since the New York Sack Exchange, circa On paper, they could have the best line in the league. No, they don't have a franchise quarterback, but at least they can take pleasure in terrorizing opponents' 12 P a g e

13 quarterbacks. With that defensive front, coupled with Darrelle Revis & Co. in the secondary, the Jets' defense might be banned in some states. Somewhere in western New York, Rex Ryan is turning green with envy as he devours a plate of Buffalo wings. The only loser here is Wilkerson, whose leverage was gashed by the Williams pick. He absolutely deserves a long-term contract extension -- he's truly a cornerstone player -- but there will be no sense of urgency for the Jets to do a deal. Maccagnan said he still hopes to sign Wilkerson, but you can bet he won't be rushing to the bargaining table. At this point, he might just let Wilkerson play out his deal and use the franchise tag next March. At that point, they can evaluate their options. Know this: They can't pay them all. Richardson, signed through 2016, is on his way to a blockbuster deal. Harrison doesn't have as much value because he's a two-down run stuffer, but he'll be a coveted unrestricted free agent next year. With those big deals coming up, and with Revis bringing down $39 million over the next three years, it will be impossible to keep the defense together. There's something called the salary cap. Maccagnan might hear some criticism for drafting to a strength, but the only other player worthy of the sixth pick was wide receiver Kevin White -- a good prospect, but not as highly regarded as Williams. They could have traded down, picking up an extra draft pick, but they would have taken themselves out of the blue chips. Maccagnan said they didn't receive any "worthy" trade offers. There was no quarterback on the board. If Marcus Mariota had slipped, he would have been a great choice for the quarterback-needy Jets. Truth be told, they would have passed; Mariota wasn't among the top six on their draft board. As it turned out, the choice was simple: It was Williams, who recorded 21 sacks in 35 games at USC, most of them as an interior lineman. "We were kind of surprised he actually fell to us," Maccagnan said. "He was too good a value to pass up at that point in time." The decision will have significant ramifications, if not this year, in For now, sit back and enjoy the madness created by Williams & Sons. NJ ADVANCE MEDIA Leonard Williams says Todd Bowles told him he'd draft him if Jets could get him (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media April 30, html Though the Jets' obvious needs entering the 2015 NFL Draft were at edge rusher, wide receiver, and quarterback, USC defensive end Leonard Williams was a player they had evaluated closely in the pre-draft process. Williams, who doesn't turn 21 until June, had come to One Jets Drive for a pre-draft visit. And the Jets had sent defensive line coach Pepper Johnson to USC's pro day. But as general manager Mike Maccagnan acknowledged after the Jets selected Williams in the first round on Thursday night, the team was surprised and quite pleased that Williams had fallen as far as the No. 6 pick. Williams, too, admitted he was surprised. 13 P a g e

14 "I expected anything," he said in a conference call from Chicago, the site of this year's draft. And while Williams is the latest addition to an already-talented Jets defensive line, the Jets really wanted him. Several experts felt Williams was the best overall player on the board. The Jets, according to general manager Mike Maccagnan, had him in their top three. When he spoke to Bowles by phone after the Jets made their pick, Williams said Bowles had reminded him he would take him if the Jets had the chance. "He was, like, 'Remember I told you if you drop to the Jets, that I was going to get you,'" Williams said. "And he stuck to his word, so I appreciated it." Williams isn't too concerned about how he'll fit in on a defensive line that already includes a pair of outstanding defensive ends in Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. "Really, playing a 3-4, I know I'm going to be a defensive end in that type of scheme," Williams said. "I think it's pretty cool coming in to a D-line, they're pretty young, but also they're veterans and they're pros at what they do. I think it's really come to... have such a great D-line to model my game after. "I really don't know where I'm going to fit in exactly, but I'm going to leave it up to the coaches when I get there." NFL Draft 2015: How surprised was Leonard Williams that he fell out of top five, to Jets? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media April 30, FLORHAM PARK To hear Southern California defensive lineman Leonard Williams tell it, he wasn't so much surprised that he fell out of the top five in Thursday night's NFL Draft, as he was surprised he didn't fall even farther. Wait, what? When Jacksonville, Oakland and Washington passed on Williams at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, the Jets' turn was up, at the sixth pick. Very few, if any, mock drafts projected Williams to fall out the top five. After all, analysts said before the draft that, in the final analysis of this draft class, Williams could wind up being the best defensive player or even the best player, period. He was clearly the best player available for the Jets at No. 6. And they took him, even though they already had a defensive line filled with talented players. Williams said he was surprised the Jets picked him, considering their other needs. "It was a big surprise to me," he said, when asked for his reaction to being drafted by the Jets. "I thought they were going to go for someone on the offense, just because the Jets are already known for having such a great d-line. I was really surprised, but also very excited to be a part of a great tradition and great d-line." You can't fault Williams for his honesty. Surely, some Jets fans thought (hoped?) they would pick West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White at No. 6. White went No. 7 to the Bears. 14 P a g e

15 It was no great shocker that Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan picked the best player available at No. 6. Maccagnan said all long that this was going to be his approach. But Maccagnan admitted he was pleasantly surprised that Williams was available to him. Williams said he had a more muted reaction to falling out the top five. "Not much was going through my mind," Williams said. "I expected anything, because you can never trust the mock drafts and all that type of stuff. My family wanted me to go to a Florida team, just so I can be closer to home." (Williams is from Daytona Beach, Fla.) It's not a huge deal that Williams fell to No. 6 in this draft. But it did cost him some money. According to overthecap.com's projections, Williams' Jets contract will be worth $ million. If he had been picked third, fourth or fifth, his contract value would've been projected at $ million, $ million and $ million, respectively. Williams certainly wasn't complaining Thursday. Still, does he enter the NFL with something of a chip on his shoulder, since Jacksonville, Oakland and Washington all passed on him? "Definitely," he said. "But more than all, I just want to not really prove other teams wrong, but just really prove the Jets right. I really want them to be proud of their decision and I want them to know that I'm coming in with a lot of passion and willing to put whatever it takes on the line, to make a lot of great plays and be successful." What's the latest on Jets draft pick Leonard Williams' injured shoulder? (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media April 30, FLORHAM PARK As Jacksonville, Oakland and Washington all passed on Southern California defensive lineman Leonard Williams with the third, fourth and fifth picks in Thursday's night's NFL Draft NFL Media's Ian Rapoport mentioned that Williams' shoulder injury scared off some teams in the top 10. Not the Jets, who picked Williams sixth overall. (Williams was widely projected to not fall out of the top five.) The Jets were aware of the injury, of course, but general manager Mike Maccagnan said it wasn't a deterrent. "He did have a shoulder surgery, I believe, prior to this last season, in January," Maccagnan said. "In our process, we feel very good about him from a physical and health standpoint going forward." Williams, during a conference call with reporters, was forthcoming about what happened with his shoulder. He said it is no longer an issue. "My shoulders have actually been great," he said. "They haven't been a problem for me, or even a question for a long time. Leading up to this point, every time I have an opportunity to work out, after every lift, I also make sure that I do rehab, just to keep making sure I stabilize my shoulders. Not that they're still hurt, but just to maintain them and make sure it doesn't happen again." Williams confirmed that he had right shoulder surgery at the end of his sophomore season, So he has already played an entire season since the surgery. It sidelined Williams for spring practices in 2014, but he played in all 13 games for USC last season. He finished with 9½ tackles for loss, including seven sacks. "It proved that the surgery went well and healed well, and the process has been good," Williams said, adding that the injury was to his posterior labrum. 15 P a g e

16 Leonard Williams is a steal for Jets GM Mike Maccagnan (Steve Politi) NJ Advance Media April 30, FLORHAM PARK Mike Maccagnan let the clock tick all the way down to the final seconds in the Jets war room, waiting for somebody anybody to make him an offer that he couldn't refuse. The phone rang with a few flyers, but the nothing the Jets general manager seriously considered. He was going to take Leonard Williams. He started the night with the sixth pick in the NFL Draft and he ended up with the only player universally regarded as a sure thing, a 6-foot-5 monster of a defensive lineman who still hasn't celebrated his 21st birthday. A player that nobody thought would be available when the Jets were on the clock. Is everything coming up Maccagnan these days or what? "There weren't any trade options that came across the desk that were worthy to move out of the pic," Maccagnan said, and yes, he was smiling. "We felt he was too good a value to pass up." This was a no brainer. This was too easy. So the Jets are loaded on the defensive line. This is a problem... how, exactly? They weren't going to get one of the top two quarterbacks on Thursday night, so the next best chance to making the playoffs in the AFC is to build an elite defense for their new defensive-minded coach Todd Bowles. In one offseason, Maccagnan has added to that defense an elite cornerback in Darrelle Revis and an upgrade at the position in Antonio Cromartie, signed a starting safety in Marcus Gilchrist, resigned productive linebacker David Harris and drafted a young player who might be the league's next great defensive lineman. Imagine a Jets' 2015 defensive line with Sheldon Richardson, Mo Wilkerson and Leonard Williams. There were questions about what Maccagnan might do with Wilkerson, who is set to cash in on a big contract, and maybe he's a trade chip now. A smarter idea: Keep him. Bowles loved to blitz as defensive coordinator in Arizona, but the reality is now, he might need to in his new job. "You can never have enough defensive D linemen," Bowles said. He was asked if he'd use more 4-3 alignments than his preferred 3-4, and while that figures to be a dominant training camp story, the answer to that quandary can summed up in four words: He'll figure it out. Williams had 218 career tackles in 35 college starts, with 21 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. There were questions about shoulder surgery he had after his sophomore year at Southern Cal, but given the concerns about everyone else in this top 10, they certainly seemed tame in comparison. Tampa took FSU quarterback Jameis Winston despite significant character issues. Tennessee took Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota despite his limited exposure to pro-style offenses. When the Redskins picked Iowa guard Brandon Scherff, there was rampant speculation that the Jets would (or should) trade down. Maccagnan didn't blink. Even the man walking across the stage to claim his Jets cap was floored. 16 P a g e

17 "It was a big surprise to me," Williams said. "I thought they were going to go for someone on the offense end because the Jets are already known for having a great D line." This is probably a good point to throw the bucket of ice water on the giddy Jets fans and remind them that, sorry, Geno Smith is still the starting quarterback. The offense is improved with a legit No. 1 receiver in Brandon Marshall, but it still needs an infusion of speed a dimension that the player taken directly after Williams, West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White, would have delivered. Still, there's no second guessing Maccagnan on this one. Williams was too good to pass up, and the only downside about the Jets stealing the best player with the No. 6 pick is that the draft wasn't in Radio City Music Hall. Because not even Jets fans could have booed this. How will Leonard Williams fit Jets' defensive scheme Instant analysis (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media April 30, FLORHAM PARK Minutes after he made USC defensive end Leonard Williams the first draft pick of his tenure as the Jets' general manager, Mike Maccagnan admitted he was "kind of surprised" Williams had fallen all the way to No. 6. Maccagnan's draft philosophy, stated repeatedly in recent weeks, was to draft the best player available. And even though the Jets have a stacked defensive line, even though they've used first-round picks on defensive ends in 2011 and 2013, Maccagnan was willing to entertain a handful of trade offers while the Jets were on the clock. But in the end, he said, Williams "was too good a guy to pass on at that point in time." Some draft experts have described the 6-foot-5, 302-pound Williams as the draft's best overall player. So how will a Jets defensive line that's committed (mostly) to playing a 3-4, that already has Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Damon Harrison, add Williams to the mix, too? Head coach Todd Bowles said they'll continue to play a 3-4, though they may also use a 4-3 in certain situations against certain opponents. Dane Brugler's 2015 NFL Draft Guide describes Williams this way: "Williams has versatile experience, lining up inside and outside on USC's multiple fronts, which helped develop his versatility to fit any NFL scheme best suited as a five technique in a 3-4 or three technique in a 4-3." That leaves room for all sorts of possibilities. Perhaps the Jets could even play Williams inside on passing downs. "You can never have enough D-linemen," Bowles said. "I had a bunch of D-linemen in Dallas when I was there, too, so having a lot of good football players doesn't matter. I think everyone on the D-line has to learn how to play across the board in our scheme anyway." The Jets are coming off a 4-12 season, but defensive line had been their biggest strength. They spent big in free agency to bolster their beleaguered secondary. They had no chance to get Florida State's Jameis Winston or Oregon's Marcus Mariota, who went 1-2 to the Bucs and Titans, respectively. And while the Jets have bigger needs at edge rusher, receiver, and along the offensive line, Maccagnan has also said repeatedly he would not reach by trying to draft for need. So he went with Williams, whom he acknowledged was ranked in the top three on the team's board entering the draft. 17 P a g e