The New York Jets defense has been ranked top-five for the past two years, and a big part of that is due to the play of one of the best linebacker duos in the league. Quincy Williams and C.J Mosley.
Even though the team struggled as a whole in 2023, those two shined all year long. The duo played all 17 games together this past season and combined for 291 combined tackles, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. Williams finished the year with an 81.1 Pro Football Focus grade and Mosley finished with an 82.9 PFF grade.
Williams earned the 2023 Curtis Martin Team MVP Award for the Jets. Mosley was also recognized for his career year in 2023 and was nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, which was won by Bobby Wagner. Williams was also named AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October.
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Mosley and Williams are ranked very high among linebackers in the NFL. Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuiness looked at the top 32 linebackers ahead of the 2024 season, and both Mosley and Williams made the top 12. Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson made a similar list and had both Jets linebackers in the top six.
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McGuinness ranked Mosley and Williams as the No. 5 and No. 12 linebackers in the NFL, respectively.
On Mosley:
Coming off a career year in which he earned a 90.6 PFF coverage grade at 31 years old, Mosley is enjoying a late-career second breakout after the beginning of his Jets tenure was hindered by injury and COVID-19. He finished 2023 with 60 tackles resulting in a defensive stop and forced a pair of fumbles.
On Williams:
2023 was a career year for Williams, who set career highs with an 81.1 PFF overall grade and a 70.4 run-defense grade. And his 88.7 PFF coverage grade wasn’t just a career-best mark, but it was also the second-best figure among all linebackers.
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Robinson, meanwhile, actually ranked Williams ahead of Mosley. Williams finished No. 5, while Mosley ranked No. 6
No one thought much of the Jets’ decision to claim Quincy Williams off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars in September of 2021. But the former third-round pick has become one of the league’s most productive second-level defenders since joining Gang Green.
In 2023, Williams led the NFL with 80 defensive stops — tackles that resulted in negative EPA for the offense — according to PFF. But he wasn’t a pure run-stopping linebacker. Williams also finished second among LBs in pass breakups (10) and played the third-most LB snaps from the slot.
C.J. Mosley and Williams are almost interchangeable in our LB rankings. The Jets, who have the best CB duo in the league, also boast the NFL’s top linebacker tandem.
Mosley’s career turnaround didn’t always seem inevitable. A groin injury cost him most of his New York debut campaign in 2019, and he opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mosley struggled upon his return in 2021 but returned to form in 2022 and 2023. He may no longer be the athlete he was with the Ravens, but Mosley is still an outstanding linebacker as he enters his age-32 season.
Combined, the two have some incredible stats. Over the past 2 seasons, the duo has a combined 555 combined total tackles, 6.5 sacks, three interceptions and four forced fumbles.
Williams has been a fan favorite since he came to New York in 2021. With his energetic and funny personality, he gives the Jets’ defense that much-needed juice. Mosley who has been one of the NFL’s best linebackers since being drafted by the Ravens in 2018 is always ready to lead any team to war and has been a great captain for the defense.
With the return of Aaron Rodgers in 2024, the Jets’ defense should be much more rested this season and ready to face any offense. Williams is set to have another standout year and could be one of the best linebackers in all of football. He’s also fresh off a new contract extension after signing a three-year, $18 million deal in March of 2023.
Mosley who has been a proven leader in the league is looking to add another Pro Bowl season to his resume. After a career year with the Jets in 2023, Mosley could be ready to sign a new deal as well.
In 2019, Mosley signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the Jets and is on the final year of his contract. Mosley will be 32 on June 19.