While it may have taken nearly all offseason, the New York Jets finally added Aaron Rodgers prior to the NFL Draft. For the most part, all is well in the Big Apple for Gang Green.
Except for Quinnen Williams.
The 25-year-old All-Pro defensive tackle is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and is coming off the best season of his career. While the Jets still have plenty of time to work out an extension, not only before the start of the season later this fall but also throughout the length of the year before free agency officially begins again next offseason.
Yet, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, early contract extension negotiations between the Jets and their star defensive lineman haven’t gone well. Cimini notes that the two parties “aren’t close to an agreement.”
We’ve already seen a few other top-ranked defensive tackles receive big-money extensions this offseason, with Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons and New York’s (Giants) Dexter Lawrence becoming the second and third-highest paid at their positions.
- Quinnen Williams stats last season: 55 tackles (12 TFL), 12 sacks, 2 FF, 4 PD
Naturally, after being named a first-team All-Pro member, Williams is expected to receive a contract in a similar range as what Simmons and Lawrence received, but for whatever reason, the two sides haven’t been able to see eye to eye just yet. Williams is not participating in voluntary workouts, as many players in a similar situation do.
Related: 2023 NFL defense rankings: Evaluating all 32 NFL teams after NFL Draft