One of the most important offseasons in New York Jets history has finally come to a close with the team putting the finishing touches on a contract extension for one of their brightest stars, agreeing to a four-year, $96 million contract extension with First-Team All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes a guaranteed $66 million.
Negotiations between the Jets and the former third-overall pick had gone on for several months after the interior rusher said he would not attend voluntary workouts without a new contract at the end of the 2022-23 regular season. Williams’ new deal has him as the second-highest-paid defensive player in NFL history behind Los Angeles Rams tackle, Aaron Donald.
For New York, the extension for Williams is money well spent. He tallied a career-high 12 sacks last season – almost unheard of for interior rushers, and was considered one of the best defensive players in football. He finished seventh in the defensive player of the year voting and was the first Jets interior defender to be named a First-Team All-Pro since Hall-of-Famer Joe Klecko. At just 25 years old, the Jets expect him to continue his league-wide dominance as he enters his prime.
A hefty new payday wasn’t the only good news that has hit Williams and his family over the last few weeks. Williams and his wife welcomed the arrival of a baby girl in May, while his older brother Quincy was also extended by the Jets to a three-year deal.
The Williams’ extension is seen as the last major piece the Jets needed to figure out before training camp after trading for future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and revamping the offense with the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett.
With few distractions left for the team to worry about, it’s full-steam ahead for Gang Green heading into training camp.
