Jets Select Quinnen Williams With No. 3 Pick In NFL Draft

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By WFAN.com

The Jets selected defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Williams is the latest promising defensive lineman to come from the University of Alabama. He started 15 games as a sophomore in 2018, accruing eight sacks and 71 total tackles, all significant improvements from his freshman campaign. He was a finalist for Bronko Nagurski and Bednarik Awards and the Outland Trophy.

“It’s just amazing,” Williams told ESPN. “I’m ready to work now, man. I trained with Leonard Williams. I know Leonard Williams a lot, man. So to get in there with him and someone I have a connection with and learn from him and things like that, we’re going to get the work done.”

Quinnen Williams (Alabama) is selected as the number three overall pick to the New York Jets in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in Downtown Nashville. Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Images

The Birmingham, Alabama native is viewed as someone who will be ready to start in the NFL right away. Williams’ footwork allows him to spring off the line despite being 6-foot-3 and weighing 303 pounds. He dealt with double-teams frequently at Alabama, but will need to add some mass if he is going to be able to handle them at the next level.

“He’s just scratching his potential," general manager Mike Maccagnan told The Daily News.

Maccagnan told reporters that 

"When we were sitting there at three, there was definitely some teams that we talked to before," Maccagnan said. "A few teams that we talked to on the clock, but in the end, there was never an offer or a deal that we felt good enough to move back from. Quite frankly, we were very happy with the player that was available. We thought there would be a good chance he'd be there. From our standpoint, it was best player available at that point in the draft."

--#TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/CZv5OH81qf

— #TakeFlight (@nyjets) April 26, 2019

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