A New York Jets captain could soon find himself on the outside looking in.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report listed starting linebacker Quincy Williams as a “top trade asset” for the green and white heading into training camp.
Williams, 28, is entering the final year of his $18 million contract.
Back in March, ESPN’s Rich Cimini called Williams a “tradeable commodity” on the “Flight Deck” podcast.
“There are teams like the Atlanta Falcons – hello Jeff Ulbrich – who are looking for speed and maybe would be interested in a guy like Quincy Williams. I’m just saying, watch that situation,” Cimini explained.
The old regime of Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh promised Williams a new contract during the 2025 offseason. The only problem is that Saleh and Douglas were fired before they got to execute those offseason plans.
They “more or less told Williams that don’t worry, we will give you a new contract before the 2025 season starts, an extension basically,” Cimini added.
“I don’t know how the new regime feels about Williams, but it is quite possible they don’t extend him. Even though he has clearly outperformed his contract. I mean, two years ago, he was a first-team All-Pro. He is only making $6 million a year; he deserves a raise [but] I don’t know if [Darren] Mougey will give it to him,” Cimini said.
Williams Deserves Credit for Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing
It would have been very easy for Williams to throw a fit.
He was promised a new deal, and he didn’t get it. Williams’ teammate, Jamien Sherwood, became a top-five highest-paid linebacker this offseason on a new $45 million contract.
Yet instead of pouting, Williams has buckled his chin strap and reported to the team. Williams has been a participant all offseason and has accepted an even larger leadership role.
Williams spoke with former Jets teammate C.J. Mosley about the subject matter and has received some great tips.
You Have to Handle the Quincy Negotiations Delicately
Quincy is not just any normal player fighting for a contract extension. He is the brother of a superstar Jets player. Quinnen Williams is the highest-paid player on the team and the highest-paid player in team history.
If you treat Quincy like trash, that could directly impact Williams. It’s a delicate situation.
You don’t want to upset one of your top players, but are you willing to pay a 28-year-old soon-to-be-29-year-old top linebacker money? Especially considering you already invested a bag in Sherwood at the same position?
No other team in the NFL is currently paying multiple off-ball linebackers $10 plus million per season. Sherwood got a deal that pays him $15 million per season. Williams has a first-team All-Pro on his resume; Sherwood does not. The former Murray State product could make a very strong case that he deserves even more money than Sherwood received based on his resume.
Jets $18 Million Leader Called Team’s ‘Top Trade Asset’ Ahead of Camp