Leonard Williams has become the kind of defensive force Seahawks fans can’t afford to overlook.
Seattle’s roster is loaded with high-end talent on both sides of the ball, and last season’s run was powered not just by the obvious stars, but by players who were every bit as important even if they didn’t always get treated that way. In the middle of that group stood Williams, a 13-year NFL veteran who helped set the tone for the Seahawks defense and served as one of the team’s key veteran leaders.
Williams wasn’t just another experienced voice in the room. He was the heartbeat of the defense on the field, and for a player who had reached the playoffs only once before, the championship chase clearly meant a lot.
His value went beyond his résumé, too. It was his leadership, his consistency, and the way he carried himself that made him such a central figure in Seattle’s success.
That’s why Seattle Sports’ Mike Salk has pushed so hard for fans to see Williams for what he is. On Brock and Salk, Salk called Williams a superstar and argued that the Seahawks defensive lineman belongs in the same conversation as the league’s most recognizable names.
“You’re talking about the No. 1 player at one of the most important positions on the field. If I was ranking NFL positions, quarterback is one, and then for me, it’s either D-end or D-line.
And I think I could make you a pretty compelling case it’s D-line," Salk said. "So, Leonard Williams is one of the best players in the NFL - period.
He is a superstar-level player. He was the best defensive player on the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks.
"The only problem is we don’t seem to talk about him that much," he continued. "We need to make a commitment - all of us, together - to remember to talk about our superstar here in Seattle."
That case isn’t hard to make. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently polled NFL executives, scouts, and coaches, and Williams came out as the league’s No. 1 defensive tackle. He’s also more than a one-position player, moving across the defensive line for Seattle with ease.
For Salk, the argument goes beyond production. Williams is also, in his view, a great human being, which only strengthens the case for why he should be celebrated more widely. And while linemen don’t usually get the same public spotlight as quarterbacks or wide receivers, Williams’ standing among the game’s best should be impossible to ignore.
If players like Myles Garrett, Cam Jordan, and Chris Jones get their due, Williams should as well. He belongs in that tier.
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