The New York Jets accomplished the No. 1 task on their offseason to-do list upgrading the quarterback position. They acquired Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in a trade to shore things up there. Next up for them is to figure things out will Quinnen Williams.
The All-Pro defensive tackle is currently not with the team as his representatives and the Jets work on contract negotiations. He has opted not to participate in voluntary team activities until things are resolved.
Earlier this month, it was reported that talks weren’t very fruitful. Willians and the Jets were reportedly not close in negotiations. That was seemingly cemented when the No. 3 pick from the 2019 NFL Draft removed any mention of the Jets from his social media pages in the middle of May.
While things don’t seem to be heading in the right direction, Jets head coach Robert Saleh was confident that it will be worked out and Williams will be back in no time. “I’m not worried at all. That thing will get done, and he’ll be here,” Saleh Said.
The optimism that Saleh is presenting could be a sign that Williams and the team are getting closer in negotiations. According to Bryan Costello and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, optimism is warranted. They are reporting that there is confidence the Jets will agree to a new deal with Williams in the coming weeks.
The Alabama product is in a position to reset the defensive tackle market that saw some massive contracts signed this offseason. Daron Payne and Dexter Lawrence signed four-year, $90 million extensions to remain with the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
Jeffery Simmons was selected in the 2019 NFL Draft like Williams and signed a four-year, $94 million extension with the Tennessee Titans. In free agency, Javon Hargrave signed a four-year, $81 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Williams will use those deals as a benchmark and rightfully so. He is coming off of a career season with 12 sacks and looking to get paid like his peers. But, all of the aforementioned deals still fall short of Aaron Donald, who is playing out a six-year, $135 million deal.