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.

Last year’s ranking: 1

Position: DE

Age: 24

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

Years left on contract: 2

2018 Salary Cap figure: $5.9 million

Looking back at 2017: Williams was not as dominant as he was in 2016, when he made his first Pro Bowl, but he still had a strong season.

The problem was the sacks did not pile up for him like they did the year before, when he had seven. He ended the year with just two sacks and did not have any until Week 9.

Despite the sacks being down, Williams did a good job getting pressure on the quarterback. According to Pro Football Focus, he was second among defensive interior linemen with 17 quarterback hits. He added 26 hurries, which was 16th among linemen.

PFF ranked Williams 25th out of 124 interior linemen they graded.

While much was made about Williams’ pass rushing, he did his job in Todd Bowles’ defense. He took up double teams to free up linebackers to make plays, and he was strong against the run. His run-stop percentage was 6.8, per PFF, 16th among linemen.

Williams added an interception to his résumé when he picked off the Saints’ Drew Brees late in the year, a turnover that led to a field goal.

Outlook for 2018: Entering his fourth year, Williams may not be the dominant pass rusher some hope he will be, but he has been a very solid player.

The challenge for Williams remains the attention he is getting from offenses. Until the Jets get a dominant edge rusher, offensive lines are going to focus on stopping him. Now he does not have Muhammad Wilkerson or Sheldon Richardson on the other side of the line to take some of the attention. Offenses will plan around stopping him.

This is a big year for Williams. He will be entering the final year of his contract in 2019. The team and Williams surely will try to get a long-term deal done after this season. A big year would help him financially. The good news for the Jets is Williams already has said he is not worried about the contract and does not appear like he will make any noise about getting a deal done.

Williams was Mike Maccagnan’s first draft pick, and he is a cornerstone for this team going forward. The expectation is the Jets and Williams will get a long-term deal done before next season, and he can drive the price up this year.