New York Jets, Quinnen Williams agree to four-year, $96 million deal

The New York Jets have reportedly come to terms with former first-round defensive tackle Quinnen Williams ahead of his contract season. With his new deal, Williams is locking in the second largest contract for a defensive tackle at four years, $96 million, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

He is now behind only Rams star Aaron Donald who signed a three-year deal for $95 million last year. Tennessee defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons signed his new deal for four years, $94 million in April.

Williams’ rookie contract paid him a guaranteed $32.5 million after he was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

His new four-year deal, worth $96 million, includes $66 million in guaranteed money.

“Quinnen Williams now is the first Jets’ player selected in round one to sign a second contract with the organization since Muhammad Wilkerson, whom they picked in 2011,” NFL insider Adam Schefter reported. “No Jets players selected in the first round from 2012-2018 had signed second contracts with the team.”

To make the deal happen, Williams held himself out of the Jets’ offseason voluntary program. Had they not agreed to terms on a long-term deal, he would have received $9.594 million on the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. Instead, he’ll get roughly $23.75 million per season for the next four years.

With the Jets starting training camp sooner than any other team in the league, and with Hard Knocks coming into the picture, the team had extra motivation to get a deal done with Williams this week.

Quinnen Williams lands megadeal

The former Outland Trophy winner has lived up to his billing coming out of Alabama, producing at the level you’d expect of a first-rounder.

After recording 15.5 sacks in his first three seasons, Williams recorded 12 in 2022 alone. In four seasons he has racked up 179 tackles, 27.5 sacks and 11 passes defended. Williams earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2022.

Prior to entering the NFL, Williams was a monster for the Crimson Tide from 2016-18, helping Alabama win a national title in the 2017 season as a redshirt freshman. He won the Outland Trophy and the Bill Willis Trophy in 2018, while he was also earned a first-team All-SEC selection and was a unanimous All-American.

During his time at Alabama, Williams recorded 90 tackles, 25.0 tackles for a loss, 9.0 sacks and one pass defended.