The New York Jets have reportedly finalized a massive contract extension that will keep one of their very best players on the roster for several more years to come.
Entering this summer, Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams was set to play out the final year of his rookie contract. The $9 million he was set to make was a huge raise over what he earned during the first three years of his career but was still well below the number a player of his caliber is making in the league currently.
Related: Highest paid NFL players in 2023 – Quinnen Williams joins some elite company
That fact was made clear by Williams and his representation after the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had a breakthrough season and snagged his first All-Pro honors in 2022. While the belief was that the New York Jets and Quinnen Williams would eventually agree on a massive extension, the months had passed and other star tackles like Jeffrey Simmons and Daron Payne inked new long-term deals.
New York Jets give Quinnen Williams a $96 million extension
Well, the 25-year-old can now place himself among the highest-paid tackles in the NFL. On Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter was one of the first to report that the New York Jets and their top defensive lineman had come to terms on a new four-year extension that will pay him as much as $96 million over the life of the deal and has a guarantee of $66 million.
The historic deal will now make the superstar lineman and his over $24 million annual pay second in the league only to future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald and his $31 million per season.
- Quinnen Williams stats (2022): 12.5 sacks, 55 tackles, 20 tackle for loss, 28 QB hits
Williams had delivered solid production over his first three seasons in the league, however, in 2022 he took a seismic leap forward by tallying career highs in sacks (12.5), tackles (55), tackles for loss (20), QB hits (28) and games played (16). He was key in giving the Jets one of the top defenses in the league last season and is now a long-term anchor up front for years to come.