​Leonard Williams has long earned a reputation as one of the premier players at his position in the NFL, yet many observers still underestimate his true impact. In the most recent season, his presence helped elevate the Seattle Seahawks’ defense to new heights and contributed to their ultimate success in winning a Super Bowl. Now, after last season, Williams is finally receiving the recognition he deserves.
ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler recently named Leonard Williams the best defensive tackle in the NFL in a feature article. Here is a concise summary of his assessment: Williams had not previously broken into the top five since this project began in 2020, yet he has always been a major talent. Over the past two years in Seattle’s system under coordinator Mike Macdonald, Williams has maximized his contributions, becoming a standout contributor on a defense that required his steady presence.
During the season, Williams posted 7.0 sacks and a 38.0% run-stop win rate, contributing to his second-team All-Pro honors. His blend of size, versatility, and technique makes him a matchup problem for offensive lines, regardless of where they line up across from him. Standing 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Williams’ ability to collapse the pocket and disrupt plays forces offenses to adjust continuously, creating opportunities for teammates to thrive.
Over the past three seasons, Williams has racked up 120 run-stop wins when double-teamed, a figure that leads the NFL and underscores his effectiveness as a disruptive force up front. In 2025, he accumulated 24 tackles on pass plays, the highest total among interior linemen by a wide margin, illustrating his impact in both run defense and pass rushing.
Yet the value Williams brings extends far beyond the box score. His impact touches every facet of the Seattle defense. He plugs gaps in the middle of the line, drawing double teams and freeing up fellow defenders to execute their roles more effectively. He creates a space for linebackers and edge players to operate with greater freedom, and he demands attention from interior blockers that would otherwise be shared among multiple teammates. This level of influence is precisely why his team can perform at a higher level and why removing him from the lineup would produce a noticeably weaker defense.
In Fowler’s view, Williams’ 7-sack season reflects his disruptive capability, but it does not fully capture his importance. The disruption he creates in the middle of the line matters as much as, if not more than, any single stat. He is the kind of player whose presence alters an entire defense’s dynamic. The argument for the top stop at his position rests on the combination of his consistent production, his versatility, and the way he elevates everyone around him. When a team loses a player of Williams’ caliber, the defense often loses its spine; with him, Seattle’s unit played with a confidence and cohesion that became a defining characteristic of their ascent this past season.
For readers who want ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes, and opinion, this piece originally appeared on Trojans Wire, and it underscores the broader narrative of Leonard Williams as one of the NFL’s elite interior defenders. To follow the latest updates, fans can connect with Trojans Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like the page on Facebook. This overview reflects a deeper appreciation of Williams’ impact beyond the surface statistics—an evaluation that recognizes a player who quietly but decisively shapes the outcomes of games through both his technique and his presence on the field.