AP Photo/Paul Connors

Why Mario Williams?

Mario Williams got off to a tough start to the 2012 season, and racked up just 3.5 sacks in the first seven games of the season, including five games without a sack. A wrist injury was said to be the source behind his struggles, so it's no coincidence that he improved dramatically following wrist surgery. He logged seven sacks over the final nine games of the season, and although he was held without a sack in the final three games of the season, he logged 12 quarterback hurries and a hit in those games.

His 12 tackles for loss ranked him 14th in the NFL, and second in the AFC East according to Advanced NFL Stats.

Williams may not yet have proven himself worthy of the six-year, $96 million contract he signed last offseason, but he could see solid production at full health and in a new aggressive style of defense with Mike Pettine at the helm.

Did you know?

The Texans were ridiculed for not taking Reggie Bush or Vince Young with the first overall pick in 2006, but Mario Williams was the only one of those three players to play out his full rookie contract (Bush was traded, Young was released).

Check back every morning as we reveal one player a day on our way to No. 1 in the top 25.

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