Getty New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams celebrating after a huge play in an NFL game.
New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams has been sending a lot of cryptic messages on social media.
The former Alabama product made it clear at the end of the 2022 season that he would like to get a long-term contract extension. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the two sides aren’t close in those talks and the team side doesn’t seem to be in “any hurry.”
Yikes Rich Cimini of ESPN had a few things to say about the #Jets, Quinnen Williams situation:
🏈 Two sides weren’t close to an extension last week & “nothing has changed”
🏈 NYJ doesn’t seem to be in “any hurry”
With all that uncertainty, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports revealed four potential trade destinations to which Williams could be shipped:
- Chicago Bears
- Houston Texans
- Detroit Lions
- Seattle Seahawks
Evaluating the Potential Trade Landing Spots for Jets DL Quinnen Williams
Chicago Bears
Sullivan believes Quinnen would be a seamless fit for the Bears and their “young nucleus.”
On top of the fit, Sullivan also pointed out that Chicago has the “most cap space in the NFL” and with that could give Williams “the contract he seeks.”
According to Over The Cap, the Bears have $32 million in available cap space which is tops in the league.
Houston Texans
The head coaches of the Jets and Texans, Robert Saleh, and Demeco Ryans, have a history with one another. Sullivan made the Alabama connection between Ryans and Williams. That would have a chance to change the culture of a rebuilding young squad.
Detroit Lions
Sullivan believes a Lions-Jets trade for Williams could put Detroit over the top in the race for the NFC North crown.
“Lions GM Brad Homes came from a Rams front office that drafted Aaron Donald,” Sullivan explained. “So he is well aware of what kind of an impact a star defensive tackle can bring to a team.”
Seattle Seahawks
“A deal for Williams would drastically improve a Seattle defense that ranked 21st in DVOA last season that much more fearsome,” Sullivan articulated. “[That] could inch them closer to rivaling the 49ers in the NFC West. ”
In the column, he didn’t specifically mention what trade compensation would look like if the Jets traded away Williams.
However, the price would be expected to be astronomical for a 25-year-old first-team All-Pro defender.
There Is Still Time to Repair the Bridge Between Jets & Quinnen Williams
I spoke to Henry McKenna who covers the AFC East for Fox Sports on my podcast on Monday, May 15.
McKenna emphatically shared a direct quote from a source on the show, “[Quinnen] loves the Jets. He just wants to get paid. Hopefully, it doesn’t get messy.”
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said there has been “minimal progress” on a contract extension getting done between Q and the Jets in a column that was posted on Wednesday, May 17.
One of the things the Jets at least have to be aware of is the perception around the league.
Gang Green is the only team that didn’t re-sign “any of its first-rounders from 2012 to 2018 to second contracts,” per ESPN. That is a fun fact that Williams not so subtly brought up to the media during his exit presser.
The last former Jets first-rounder that got a new deal was Muhammad Wilkerson.
He was the No. 30 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft and after signing his big-money deal completely flopped.