Avery Williamson

Williamson was a tackling machine for the Jets last season, racking up a career-best 120 after coming over from the Titans in free agency. Matching that number might have been difficult in 2019, as New York brought in an even better inside linebacker in C.J. Mosley, who has exceeded 130 tackles twice in five NFL seasons. It become a moot point in August when Williamson suffered a torn ACL in the Jets' second preseason game, ruling him out for the entire 2019 campaign.

With Demario Davis gone to New Orleans, the Jets signed Williamson from the Titans this offseason. The Titans had trouble covering tight ends last year, and the fact that they pulled Williamson much of the time dictates concern over whether he'll hold onto a three-down role with the Jets. The fact that they're paying him over $7 million per year is reassuring, and he did show a high per-snap tackle rate. Williamson's 92 stops last year were accumulated on just 654 snaps, which would project to 140 tackles on 1,000 snaps.

Williamson was more of a 2.5-down linebacker last year than a three-down one, yet he still hit triple-digit tackles with a modest 907 snaps. There's no guarantee that arrangement will change in 2017, which limits his upside, but it's worth noting that the Titans are thinner at linebacker after Sean Spence headed to Indianapolis. Spence played 505 snaps last year, so that could be significant. Williamson also helps boost his floor with his pass-rushing activity -- he has 8.5 sacks over the last three seasons.

Beware of Tennessee's muddied linebacker situation, but if Williamson heads into Week 1 as a starter (as expected), he should maintain a grip on his status at the top. The Titans shifted him to a full-time defensive role in 2015 after he mostly played special teams as a rookie, and he responded with his first triple-digit tackle season. If he solidifies that role, he should see his snap count increase from last year's 925, increasing his upside in the process. Further boosting that upside is Williamson's blitzing potential, as 6.5 sacks in 1,738 career snaps is impressive for an inside 'backer.

Williamson should be on IDP radars after recording 79 tackles and three sacks in the final 14 games of the 2014 season as a rookie. With a year of seasoning in the team's 3-4 scheme and the addition of assistant head coach Dick LeBeau to help take the team's defense to the next level, Williamson possesses a lot of upside at the linebacker position. The 2014 fifth-round pick should be able to match last season's production at the very least if he stays healthy.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Williamson adds depth to the Titans' inside linebacker corps.