Surprise Atop ESPN League DT Rankings

Rat

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1. Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 6

Williams had never previously cracked the top five since this project's inception in 2020. But he has always been a major talent, and he has maximized his contributions over the past two years in Seattle coach Mike Macdonald's defense.

These days, he's an absolute nightmare to block. Several offensive coaches did not hesitate to say Williams was the toughest player to guard last season.

"He was the most important player on that Super Bowl team," an NFL coordinator said. "He's the total package."

Williams recorded 7.0 sacks and a 38.0% run stop win rate on his way to second-team All-Pro honors. His versatility at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds puts offensive linemen in a bind, no matter the position.

"You can line him up in front of the right tackle, the right guard, the center, the left guard, the left tackle -- he can beat them all," a veteran NFC defensive coach said. "He's always had game-changing ability, and he's putting it all together now. And those around him are making plays because of it too."

Williams' 120 run-stop wins when double-teamed over the past three seasons are tied for the most in the NFL. His 24 tackles on pass plays in 2025 were six more than any other interior linemen.

Well deserved, but I was not expecting that. I clicked on the link just hoping he'd sneak into the top 5. These aren't just one guy's rankings either, this is a poll from league execs, coaches, and scouts.
 

chrispy

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According to article: 24 tackles on pass plays when lined up on the inside. ...that's crazy. Rushing the passer up the middle and then making the tackle on whomever catches it. ...hard to picture that happening more than once or twice per season.

Murphy and Williams benefit each other. How much and who's benefitted the most is debatable...and a pretty fantastic topic to debate considering some of the brutal subjects over the last decade here on .net.
 

LeveeBreak

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The having the guy at #1 was the notable part. Adding more would have gotten it deleted for title length. BYRON at honorable mention shouldn't be surprising to anyone.
Just chuckle anymore 'cuz the resistance is just toying with the board...assumed anyway.
 
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MontanaHawk05

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I still cannot believe we got that guy. I've been pounding the table for years for a truly disruptive, game-changing player at that position, more than at any other position. John went out on a limb to get him and it worked out in spades. And then did the same thing for the guy behind him.
 

RolandDeschain

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I still cannot believe we got that guy. I've been pounding the table for years for a truly disruptive, game-changing player at that position, more than at any other position. John went out on a limb to get him and it worked out in spades. And then did the same thing for the guy behind him.
This might be mushy memory on my part, but I think your pounding the table for years on this still pales in comparison to the years you spend pounding the table for investing in the OL. :ROFLMAO: Or am I potentially thinking of someone else? I remember harping about OL for a really long time around here myself, and I know there were at least a few others who never went too long without mentioning it as well.
 

MontanaHawk05

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This might be mushy memory on my part, but I think your pounding the table for years on this still pales in comparison to the years you spend pounding the table for investing in the OL. :ROFLMAO: Or am I potentially thinking of someone else?
Definitely thinking of someone else - nobody has spent LESS time on this board over the years pounding the table for OL. I've been the one guy (Kearly used to as well) who has been trying to point out that OL quality has lost a significant part of its correlation to winning over the last two decades.
 

SoulfishHawk

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Yep. Next level absurd.
All because he can't just admit he was wrong. Because he didn't want them to draft him. I still admire the hard-core dedication to denial on Murphy. It's impressive.
Nothing bad about being wrong. Mid season, I didn't think Darnold was anything more than a placeholder (First Rams game)
Couldn't have been more wrong. And it's awesome. Oh well, not important. Opinions are like...well you know.

Go Hawks
 
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Damn, no pleasant surprise today. It was TE day and of the 22 to receive votes, zero are Seahawks. I wasn't expecting Barner to rate highly, but not even honorable mention, let alone "others receiving votes"?
 

oldhawkfan

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Anyone remember the trashing of JS and the front office when they traded a 2nd and 5th round pick to the Giants for Leo? There was some serious handwringing and gnashing of teeth over this trade if I remember correctly. Fans are just plain shittalkers and clueless much of the time.
 
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