The New York Jets reportedly turned away multiple teams that expressed interest in defensive lineman Quinnen Williams as the trade deadline.
Joe Douglas is a man who always picks up the phone when other teams call about a player. He’s admitted that exact certainty a year ago when clubs expressed interest in Jamal Adams.
Ozzie Newsome taught him well, apparently. He also didn’t teach him to pull the trigger in every case.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, multiple teams expressed interest in defensive lineman Quinnen Williams prior to the league’s trade deadline last Tuesday. In the end, however, Douglas rejected all inquiries.
“Multiple teams expressed interest in trading for the former Alabama star, but New York told each of them that Williams plays too important a position and has too much talent to deal away,” Schefter wrote Sunday morning.
Williams, 22, is slowly coming into his own after a disappointing rookie campaign. The third-round selection in 2019 has already amassed three sacks, five quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss and 31 total tackles this season (eight games).
Williams trails Aaron Donald by just two solo tackles when taking behind the line or at the line into consideration.
Most solo tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage among DTs
1. Aaron Donald (11)
2. Quinnen Williams (9)#Jets— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) November 7, 2020
Douglas parted ways with Steve McLendon and Avery Williamson in-season. Both hardworking and respected veterans are each living out a personal Twilight Zone episode. Once stuck on a winless team with no 2020 hope, each now plays for legitimate contenders (Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers).
Williams remains a Jet. Unfortunately, it looks like he’ll miss his first game of the season this Monday night when Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots visit MetLife Stadium. He’s currently listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury.
