As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 1: Leonard Williams

Last year’s ranking: 10

Position: DT

Age: 23

How acquired: Selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft

Years left on contract: 2 (plus a team option for a third)

2017 Salary Cap figure: $5 million

Looking back at 2016: There were not many good things to take away from last season for the Jets, but the emergence of Williams as a star was one.

The second-year defensive lineman was everywhere in 2016. He was disruptive against the pass and stout against the run. It was hard to find many holes in Williams’ game and he made his first Pro Bowl as an alternate.

Williams had 68 tackles, two forced fumbles and seven sacks. Pro Football Focus rated him as the 8th best interior defender out of the 126 they graded. He was 5th against the run and 19th in pass rushing.

One of the things that stood out about Williams’ game was his versatility. He lined up outside the tackle, over the guard and even at nose tackle at times. He played well wherever Todd Bowles put him. According to PFF, Williams had seven or more pressures from five different alignment techniques along the line. He had 55 total quarterback pressures. Against the run, he was the only player who came within five total defensive stops of Giants star and former Jet Damon Harrison among all interior defenders.

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Outlook for 2017: Get ready to see plenty of Williams. He is one of the only marketable stars the Jets have and the organization surely would like him to be the face of the franchise.

As impressive as Williams is on the field, he is equally impressive off of it. He is popular with teammates and does not cause any problems with the coaches.

In his third season, the next step for Williams is to become a leader of the team. He knows it, too. Williams attended leadership classes this offseason with his girlfriend after her father suggested it. Her father just happens to be Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott.

Williams’ numbers could take a hit this season as teams pay more attention to him. You would have to think he is going to be the first player identified by opposing offensive coordinators in their game plans and he will face more double teams this year. If he does, that should clear the way for Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson to put up big numbers. Jets coach Todd Bowles must figure out how to maximize the talent on his defensive line, something he failed to do last year. Williams will be a big part of that.