Advanced Metric Says Jets Have NFL's Best Defensive Duo

They don't pack as much star power as some teammates, but their importance to the New York Jets' defensive success has been paramount.

Linebackers C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams have formed the most formidable defensive duo in the National Football League according to NexGenStats. Mosley and Williams accounted for two of the five-highest player percentile scores amongst all off-ball linebackers from across the league.

Ranking fourth and fifth overall, respectively, Mosley and Williams posted 86 NGS percentile scores that are a product of a linebacker's performance as a tackler, coverage defender and pass rusher through the first six weeks of the 2023 campaign. 

The Jets are the lone team to place two off-ball linebackers in the NGS Top 5, but the Baltimore Ravens landed a pair in the Top 10 with No. 2 Patrick Queen and No. 8 Roquan Smith. Mosley and Williams have combined for 82 solo tackles this season, the highest amount of any duo in the league.

Mosley has made at least five tackles in 38 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL. The rock-solid veteran accounted for three straight double-digit tackle totals before making nine stops in the win over Philadelphia. The 31-year-old defensive captain almost always has the unit organized and energized.

"I think Mosley's really the guy, really a key guy for them on the defense. He's one of the best, and most-instinctive, players in the league. Always a problem," said New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick ahead of the Week 3 meeting with the Jets.

Williams, who was initially acquired off waivers in 2021, re-signed this past March and has been a difference-maker in every area of the defense this season. Through six games, he has posted 6.0 tackles-for-loss, five passes defensed, four quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. 

"I would challenge everyone here and elsewhere that there’s not a better backer in the NFL right now. He is playing at an elite level in my opinion, and it’s just so exciting to see for the young man," said Jets' defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich prior to the Week 5 road victory over Denver.

Powering the team to a 31-21 win, Williams became the first player in franchise history to record at least nine tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one tackle-for-loss and three quarterback hits in a single game. One week later, the 27-year-old linebacker accounted for another franchise first by logging 12 tackles, 1.0 tackle-for-loss, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery on the same day.

Mosley and Williams aren't the lone Jets' defenders to receive high marks from NextGenStats this week. Rotational defensive end Bryce Huff tops all NFL pass rushers in NGS's pressure rate (25.7) metric.

From Top 10 off-ball linebackers entering Week 7:

4. C.J. Mosley, Jets

Mosley came back in 2021 itching to destroy ball-carriers after opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jets linebacker set a career high with 168 tackles in 2021 and racked up 83 run stops -- the second-most at his position. Mosley continues to be effective into his 30s, as he's currently on pace to threaten that career high in tackles. Also, he's tied for the third-most hustle stops at his position with eight. (A hustle stop is defined as a successful defensive play in which the defender ran 20 or more yards to make a tackle.)

A young man’s motor has aided the 31-year-old Mosley in coverage, as well. OK, his age has shown a bit more in this realm, but he has still allowed 4.4 percent fewer completions than expected when targeted as the nearest defender this season.

5. Quincy Williams, Jets

Many teams don’t have one exceptional off-ball linebacker. The Jets have two.

Williams' stellar play in run defense and as a pass rusher helped him earn a three-year, $18 million deal to re-up with New York this past offseason. With 34 run stuffs since he joined the Jets in 2021, he's tied for third among players aligned as off-ball linebackers.

The elephant in the room is his coverage score. Although it is the lowest on this list, there are some positives. He’s the most-targeted off-ball linebacker in the NFL this season, but he's allowed just the 12th-most yards (161) and has defended five passes, tied for first at his position. The sheer amount of targets is going to lead to more yards allowed and bring his score down. On a per-attempt basis, though, his 4.4 yards per attempt allowed is the ninth-lowest out of 60 off-ball linebackers (min. 10 targets).