Former Alabama standout defensive lineman Quinnen Williams is seeking a new contract from the New York Jets.
The former 2019 3rd overall pick is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, after the Jets had previously picked up his 5th year option. The 25-year old Williams is set to make $9.6 million this season, but is currently set to enter Free Agency in 2024. Williams is coming off of arguably the best year of his career as he had 12 sacks, 55 tackles, and 12 TFL this past season. Williams also earned his first All-Pro and Pro-Bowl selections as well for his efforts on the season.
So far through the first four years of Williams’ career, he has a combined 27.5 sacks, 191 tackles, and 33 TFL across 57 games. His sack production has increased every season. Williams looks to be one of the top young defensive lineman in the league at the moment.
Williams had a three-year career in the SEC at Alabama, which featured a breakout 2018 season in which he was one of the top players in all of college football. After redshirting in 2016, Williams had 2 sacks, 20 tackles, and 6.5 TFL in 2017. Then in 2018, Williams put up an 8 sack, 71 tackle, and 19.5 TFL season which saw him finish top 10 in the Heisman voting and be a first team All-American. That season led to Williams being the third overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Jets.
ESPN has reported that Williams and the Jets are working on an extension, and that the Jets are confident that a deal will get done. Williams has previously stated that he will holdout of all offseason activities until an extension is reached. He has not appeared at any of the Jets volunteer workouts. ESPN further stated that it is unknown whether the holdout would continue into training camp in July.
I think it is for the best interest of all parties to get a long-term extension worked out (and to do so soon so that the holdout does not continue into the mandatory section of offseason activities). I do think that a deal will get worked out. Without further ado, my prediction for Williams’ extension is:
Quinnen Williams Extension Prediction: 4 years, $95 million (with $65 million guaranteed)
4 years, $95 million would give the extension an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $23.75 million once it kicks in. The AAV would make Williams the third highest paid defensive lineman in the NFL (trailing Aaron Donald’s $31.67 million and fellow former SEC star Myles Garrett’s $25 million).
The $65 million guarantee essentially completely guarantees the first two years of the deal, plus would then give Williams a roughly $17.5 million guarantee on the third season.
A group of fellow young defensive linemen have recently landed extensions which helps to set the market for what a potential Williams extension would look like. Jeffery Simmons (4 years, $94 million ($66 mil guaranteed)), Dexter Lawrence (4 years, $90 million ($60 mil guaranteed)), and Williams’ former Alabama teammate DaRon Payne (4 years, $90 million ($60 mil guaranteed)) have all recently landed extensions from the defensive tackle position which helps to set the stage for what Williams could get.
The 4 year extension would start following this season, which essentially means that Williams’ contract would be turning into a 5-year, $104.6 million deal with $74.6 million guaranteed (three years fully, and then the partial on the fourth year).
Signing this contract would essentially set Williams up to begin potentially searching for another extension in three or four years when he is either 28 or 29 years old.
This feels like a win-win for all parties involved. For Williams, it gives him long-term stability while making him one of the top paid players in the NFL at his position. For the Jets it keeps one of their top players happy and helps them lock him up for the next few years as they look to compete with new star quarterback Aaron Rodgers joining an offense that also features Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Tyler Conklin. That trio serves as incumbents on an offense that has also added Mecole Hardman and Allen Lazard this offseason.
The extension would also add Williams to the group of key Jets defensive players that are locked up for multiple years that already includes the likes of; Sauce Gardner, Carl Lawson, and fellow Alabama alum CJ Mosley among others.
Another interesting wrinkle in the extension negotiation is the previously mentioned Jets’ acquisition of Aaron Rodgers earlier this offseason. Will adding one of the top QB’s in the league put extra pressure on the Jets to get a deal done as they hope to catapult themselves into Super Bowl contention over the next 2-3 years? Whether it be that added pressure, or just the desire to lock-up one of the top young defensive lineman in the league, I believe that Quinnen Williams and the Jets will reach an extension this offseason.