To say that Quincy Williams had an unflattering Cleveland Browns debut wouldn't tell half the story. He got called out on social media for standing still for several seconds during a pass play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and while it was a terrible look, the defense stunk that day as a whole.
Williams has turned the corner since that day. He put on an absolute clinic against his former team on Sunday, living up to his word to make every game against the New York Jets "a nightmare" after they let him walk in free agency.
The veteran linebacker was the best player on the field by a wide margin. After watching Devin Bush not be as efficient after signing a multi-year deal with the Chicago Bears back in March, Williams' arrival looks even better.
Quincy Williams' revenge game showed just how much value the Browns found in free agency
Williams may have had the best game of his career in the ugly loss to the Jets. He had 11 tackles (7 solo), one tackle for loss, one pass defensed, and forced three fumbles. He was everywhere, showing his sideline-to-sideline range and nose for the ball.
The Browns chose not to re-sign Bush, even after two solid seasons in Berea, knowing he'd get a bigger payday elsewhere. The Bears signed him to a three-year, $30 million pact, and he's played well enough.
Not as well as his replacement, though.
Andrew Berry got Williams for just $13 million over two years, and that is now looking like one of the best value deals in football. He was already familiar with Cleveland defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, who clearly knows how to bring out the best in him.
Deshaun Watson and the Browns' offense could never get going against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Inclement weather, the inability to run the ball, and losing K.C. Concepcion so early in that matchup took a toll on their ability to keep the chains moving.
The defense, however, held up its end of the bargain. It forced multiple turnovers, including one deep in Browns territory, and kept flipping the field to give Watson and the offense a fighting chance.
Now, with Carson Schwesinger potentially missing Week 6, Williams could have to do even more heavy lifting, likely anchoring the middle of the second level of the defense. That will put the Browns' already suspect defensive depth to the test.
Even so, Williams put this team in a position to win Sunday's road game. And even though the team didn't pull it off, the Browns must feel great about landing Pro Bowl-caliber play from a player who probably just needed a change of scenery to get back to his best football.
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