When Quinnen Williams changed his Twitter bio to read: “Defensive Tackle for The NEW YORK JETS,” on Thursday it was only a matter of time before news trickled out about a potential new contract. And that it did on Thursday afternoon, as NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rappoport first reported that Williams and the Jets agreed to terms on a four-year, $96 million megadeal.
The #Jets and All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams agreed to terms on a four-year, $96 million megadeal — the largest second contract ever for a defensive tackle, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Williams gets $66 million in guarantees in the deal negotiated by @AgentNicoleLynn. pic.twitter.com/onRE29sJx0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 13, 2023
The Jets will report for training camp in less than a week and considering the team’s Super Bowl aspirations, an absent Williams wouldn’t have been good from an optics standpoint. With six days to go and wanting to avoid another Darrelle Revis situation playing out on HBO’s Hard Knocks, the Jets handed out the largest second contract ever for a defensive tackle.
Williams, coming off his first All-Pro season in 2022, was due for a huge payday. His deal includes $66 million in guarantees, as per Rapoport and Pelissero. In four seasons with the Jets, Williams has recorded 27.5 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 11 passes defended. Oh, and he’s only getting better.
This is a big deal for the Jets, as Williams is the first player selected in the first round to sign a second contract with the organization since Muhammad Wilkerson. As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, no Jets players selected in the first round from 2012-18 had signed a second contract with the team.
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.
No Jets players selected in the first round from 2012-2018 had signed second contracts with the team.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 13, 2023
As the Jets were finally able to get an extension for Williams across the finish line, those in the NFL world shared their reactions on social media:
Big Q got that bag… as well he should.
Now that the market is “set” we should see another few dominoes start to fall in the IDL contract market. https://t.co/1hzNg51xUn
— EJ Snyder (@FootballEJ) July 13, 2023
https://t.co/sU8j77sTUQ pic.twitter.com/UboHbYrHy2
— Trending Topic 🤷🏾♂️ (@BigTicket73) July 13, 2023
Hey @QuinnenWilliams
— Woody Johnson (@woodyjohnson4) July 13, 2023
This is huge for so many reasons:
1) Jets have busted on first rounders in the past 2 decades so the Q deal is a great sign
2) Jets are ALL-IN now, even more than before
3) A lot of money to pay for a DT, but Williams is worth it
4) Before Hard Knocks eliminates a distraction https://t.co/MIAiYZlViF— Tyler Greenawalt (@TyGreen14) July 13, 2023
The Jets re-signed Quincy Williams earlier this offseason to a 3-year, $18M contract and they now reward his brother, Quinnen, with a four-year, $96 million extension. Two brothers get paid in the same offseason and get to continue to play together on the same defense.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 13, 2023
25 years old coming off of a monster season in a scheme he’s flourished under
Total no brainer https://t.co/SIJJWCmhux
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) July 13, 2023
worth every penny https://t.co/evpxxeStYy
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) July 13, 2023
And the #Jets lock in Williams.
Holdup was over years — not dollars and cents. Williams wanted four (not five) extension. Looks like he got what he wanted. #NYJ take care of their homegrown player. https://t.co/cuYdcIhsDA
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) July 13, 2023
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 13, 2023
Big bags for the big man, who just added #Jets back to his bio today. https://t.co/QC2Tkj7TRP
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 13, 2023
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.