JETS ROLL WITH TIDE

The Jets made a strategically sound – and decidedly unsexy – move to add a potential game-wrecker in the trenches in their road back to relevance.

Mike Maccagnan’s decision to take Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the third overall pick in the draft Thursday night was precisely the low-risk, high-reward selection that we’ve become accustomed to from this general manager.

While Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver could morph into an explosive terror and Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen would have filled Gang Green’s interminable edgerushing problem, Maccagnan made the boring – and smartest – choice with a high-character, high-ceiling player destined for stardom.

“You combine the technique, you combine the instincts, you combine the athletic ability,” Maccagnan said of Williams. “I think he has the parts and pieces to be a really good player.”

The bossman might be selling his newest player short. The 6-3, 303pound Williams has a chance to be a decade-long force in the interior of the Jets defense. His eruption from obscurity in his first full season at Alabama turned him into the top overall player on many team’s big boards. Williams turned the SEC into his own personal playground as a red-shirt sophomore with eight sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and 70 stops for Nick Saban last season.

The Jets believe he can play up and down the defensive line. He’ll likely play the majority of his snaps as a three-technique tackle (lining up on the outside shoulder of the guard), but his speed to power traits should make him an instant interior-pass rushing nuisance.

New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has another piece to use along with Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson.

“Whatever they want me to do, whatever I need to learn… I’m a great learner and I can do it all,” the 21-year-old Williams said. “I can play all five (defensive line) positions. So, it doesn’t matter where they put me at or where they place me. I’m going to be able to do it all.”

“I think they’re building a huge defense just by bringing in C.J. Mosley,” Williams added. “You got Jamal Adams on the back end. You’re building up a massive defensive line up front. It sounds like a great defense.”

Maccagnan & Co. were hell bent on taking the best player available after failing to swing a trade to move down to acquire more picks. Oliver, who was scooped up by the Bills at No. 9, would have been an excellent choice as well, but Williams better fit Maccagnan’s profile. Frankly, he came with no red flags.

Maccagnan, who entered the night with only six picks after giving up a second rounder last year as part of the blockbuster deal with the Colts that ultimately landed Sam Darnold, admitted he had discussions with teams in the run-up to the draft and even while the Jets were on the clock.

“But in the end,” Maccagnan said, “There was never anything we felt strong enough about to make a move on.”

Sometimes the best moves are the ones that teams don’t make.

Perhaps the Jets inability to trade down will work out best for them if Williams fulfills his promise. His addition will give Gang Green a formidable interior group that should create havoc. The ripple effect of Williams’ arrival: Leonard Williams might get more one-on-one matchups.

The Jets’ dream scenario would have been for Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa to fall to them, but everyone in the NFL universe was well aware that the 49ers weren’t passing on him at No. 2. Maccagnan wisely didn’t take an unnecessary reach for an edge pass rusher even if it was technically his biggest void.

Edge pass rushers get the glitz and glamour, but the Jets have viable pieces now to keep opposing offensive coordinators from getting peaceful nights of sleep during the week.

“The ability to push the pocket up the middle and get guys isolated, I think that would be a big bonus for any team,” Maccagnan said. “We think we have the ability to have a very stout defense up the middle. … When you have two really good interior rushers that would really give teams a lot of problems.”

He’s right. Quarterbacks despise disruption in their face. Just ask Tom Brady how he felt about Justin Tuck moving him off his spot all night in Super Bowl XLII.

“The outside guys get the sacks because the inside guys are pushing the pocket,” Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said at the combine. “So, when you can get inside pressure and get these (quarterbacks) moving and moved off their spot, their accuracy goes down . ... So, yeah, I think the premier inside pass rushers are at an alltime high. What Aaron Donald does is amazing. I think those type of guys can make average outside guys better.”

Williams has drawn comparisons to Donald, who flourished under Gregg Williams with the Rams. He has the quickness and power to thrive as a pass rusher and run stuffer. His ability to diagnosis plays, tendencies, and techniques of opposing players impressed team brass.

“He’s definitely a very cerebral player, which I thought was pretty impressive,” Maccagnan said.

Williams is going to be a problem for a very long time.