How Avery Williamson’s Jets role will change with C.J. Mosley signing

As the Jets get close to training camp, I am examining the roster and giving you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 11: Avery Williamson

Last year’s ranking: 8

Position: ILB

Age on Opening Day: 27

How acquired: Signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract as a free agent on March 13, 2018

Years left on contract: 2

2019 Salary Cap figure: $8 million

Looking back at 2018: Williamson had a strong first season with the Jets. He was one of the Jets’ most reliable players on defense.

Williamson led the team with 120 tackles. He also had three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, six passes defensed and one interception.

Williamson was particularly strong against the run. He was a reliable tackler and rarely was in the wrong place.

Off the field, Williamson became a locker-room leader and is one of the most respected voices on the team.

Pro Football Focus rated him 18th out of the 92 linebackers the site graded.

Outlook for 2019: Williamson’s role will change in his second season after the signing of C.J. Mosley. Williamson will shift to weakside linebacker and Mosley will take over the play-calling on defense.

Williamson is the type of player who will embrace this change. He is a team guy that will make the move without making a peep. He seemed to be enjoying himself on the field in the spring.

The combination of Williamson and Mosley will be formidable against the run. The Jets’ defensive strength is up the middle with Leonard and Quinnen Williams up front and Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye in the back, along with Williamson and Mosley in the middle.

The question for Williamson will be how he fares in coverage. Increasingly, teams around the NFL are trying to create mismatches with linebackers in coverage on running backs or even slot receivers. It will be interesting to see how much Gregg Williams uses Williamson on passing downs. Former coach Todd Bowles kept his linebackers on the field at all times, but Williams may try to hide coverage deficiencies by taking Williamson out on passing downs.