On this page
New York Jets sign DT Quinnen Williams to 4 - Year Contract Extension
Introduction
On Thursday, July 13th, 2023 the New York Jets decided to lock up their NFL All-Pro defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams, by signing him to a 4-year contract extension worth up to approximately $96 million. This new deal involves $66 million in total guaranteed money.
This agreement now represents the largest guarantee in total money for the long-standing franchise history of the New York Jets. Williams surpasses their former record holder in guaranteed money in the New York Jets linebacker, C.J. Mosley, who was guaranteed $51 million in a free agent signing back in 2019. The now 25 - year - old Quinnen, who previously had just 1 - year left on his initial rookie contract with the New York Jets, is now locked up through the duration of the 2027 - 2028 NFL season.
Big Men getting Big Money
This contract extension between Quinnen and the New York Jets now puts Williams as the NFL's 2nd highest-paid defensive tackle, in accordance with average annual salary value. At $24 million per year, Quinnen passes the Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons who is at $23.5 million for the number two spot.
Williams is currently only behind the Los Angeles Rams superstar defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion, Aaron Donald, who is averaging $31.7 million per NFL season. Quinnen’s $66 million of total guaranteed money does however surpass Donald’s $65 million in total guaranteed cash for a defensive tackle's contract.
The New York Jets High Spending Rebuild
The New York Jets now possess 2 of the highest - paid players in the National Football League at their respective positions in Williams at DT as well as their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who averages $50.3 million per season. Rodgers was acquired by the New York Jets in a trade with the Green Bay Packers dating back to April of 2023.
Williams decided to skip out on the New York Jets' voluntary workouts while the two sides negotiated his next contract. On more than one occasion Quinnen expressed his frustration on social media while other top defensive tackles in the National Football League managed to land life - changing contract extensions. Williams did end up deleting the New York Jets from his Twitter bio, as he eventually changed it to, "Defensive tackle for ...." Quinnen restored the New York Jets to his bio obviously on last Thursday, July 13th, 2023 just prior to the news of his contract extension going public.
"The success of this organization is beyond important to me and completing this deal allows me to turn all my attention to positively impacting that," the newly resigned and happy defensive tackle of the New York Jets, Quinnen Williams, explained in a publicly released statement last Thursday. "I am thrilled to put forth my best efforts alongside my brothers to get prepared for this season ahead of us."
During this current 2023 NFL offseason, Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans, Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants, and Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders all scored new deals which ranged in value from $22.5 million to $23.5 million per NFL season. Simmons, Lawrence, and Williams were also all 1st - round picks back in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The New York Jets re-signed Quinnen’s brother, linebacker Quincy Williams, this offseason of the National Football League to a 3 - year contract valued at approximately $18 million.
The New York Jets front office seemed to remain very positive and optimistic throughout the entire process, vowing to get the deal done even though both sides went over a month in April and May without negotiating. On June 6th, 2023 the head coach of the New York Jets, Robert Saleh, expressed the fact that, "It's going to get done. He'll be here for camp, he'll be ready to roll and once he is, I'm sure he'll be the same guy he was a year ago."
The New York Jets defense, which finished in 4th place last year in yards allowed as well as scoring, now has one of their major defensive cogs locked in for at least the foreseeable future as the New York Jets franchise has an open window to now try and compete for an NFL Super Bowl championship over the course of the next few seasons.
The Williams deal also is important due to the fact that the New York Jets are not known for retaining their top NFL draft picks. They are the only NFL franchise that did not re - sign any of their 1st - round picks from the years of 2012 through 2018 to a 2nd contract. The last player to get a contract extension was their defensive lineman, Muhammad Wilkerson, who was selected way back in the year of 2011.
This marks the first time that general manager Joe Douglas, who took over in 2019, has re-signed a Jets draft pick to a multiyear extension. Of the 55 draft picks from 2012 to 2018, only two received multiyear extensions – wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (sixth-round pick in 2014) and guard Brian Winters (third round in 2013). Those extensions predated Douglas.
After 2 - solid NFL years back in 2020 and 2021, Quinnen exploded with enthusiasm and aggression in 2022 as he finished with a team - high of 12 - sacks which was good for the 3rd amongst interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Williams’ pressure percentage of 13.4 % was the highest among qualified interior defensive linemen too.
Quinnen was selected to his 1st NFL Pro Bowl as well as more importantly being named to his very 1st - first - team NFL All-Pro selection last year. The defensive coordinator of the New York Jets, Jeff Ulbrich, said it was, "One of the best defensive performances ... I've ever been around -- and I've been around some really, really good players."
Ulbrich compared Quinnen to his former San Francisco 49ers teammate, Bryant Young, who was a 4 - time NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle selection that was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in February of 2023.
Quinnen was taken with the 3rd - overall NFL draft pick back in 2019, which was Mike Maccagnan's final draft as the general manager of the New York Jets. The former Alabama All - American has recorded a total of 27.5 - sacks throughout the 57 - career NFL games that he has played in so far.
"We are thrilled to secure Quinnen as a New York Jet for the foreseeable future, as he embodies everything we look for in our players," the New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas mentioned in a publicly released statement last Thursday. "He is a leader on and off the field, who does everything asked of him and more. He is a young, ascending player who has shown a consistent ability to dominate the line of scrimmage and help this team win. We are happy to have the business of football behind us and to turn our focus to getting ready for the 2023 season."
Williams’ Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- First - Team NFL All - Pro Selection (2022)
- NFL Pro Bowl Selection (2022)
- College Football Playoff National Champion (2017)
- Outland Trophy Award Winner (2018)
- Bill Willis Trophy Award Winner (2018)
- Unanimous All - American Selection (2018)
- First - Team All - SEC Selection (2018)
Sources:
“Jets, star DT Quinnen Williams reach $96M deal”, Rich Cimini, espn.com, Thursday, July 13, 2023.
“Quinnen Williams”, spotrac.com, Friday, July 14, 2023.
“Quinnen Williams", pro-football-reference.com, Friday, July 14, 2023.