​For years, Seattle Seahawks players seemed undervalued across the league. That impression appears to be changing in the wake of their Super Bowl 60 triumph. Earlier this week, ESPN’s annual coaches, executives, and scouts poll named Leonard Williams the No. 1 defensive tackle in the NFL. Williams is an outstanding player, but the initial reaction to his top ranking sparked some debate about the placement.
The prevailing view among many observers is that Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is the league’s best interior defender. Simmons earned the No. 2 spot behind Williams, and he led all defensive tackles with 11.0 sacks last season. He recently signed a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension, which at the time made him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.
The Titans, however, finished last season with a 3-14 record, while the Seahawks captured a 14-3 mark and claimed the Super Bowl title. That success for Seattle likely influenced Williams’s higher ranking relative to Simmons, even if the two players are both elite threats at their respective positions.
Within Seattle’s lineup, Byron Murphy II, another Seahawks defensive tackle, received honorable mention on the same top-10 list. In the cornerback rankings, Devon Witherspoon earned the No. 4 spot on the top-10 list, reflecting the depth of talent the Seahawks have cultivated. Riq Woolen, who spent part of the previous season with Seattle, also garnered votes on the poll.
Overall, Seahawks players are finally receiving the recognition they deserve after winning Super Bowl 60. Some observers think the praise has perhaps swung a bit too far, particularly when Williams sits ahead of Simmons, but many agree that the increased notoriety is a welcome change. Either way, it’s a notable shift to see Seattle players acknowledged at a higher level across the league.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire. The focus remains on the broader narrative of Seahawks players gaining deserved respect in the NFL landscape following their championship run.