NY Jets, Quinnen Williams not close to deal (Report)

The New York Jets are working on a contract extension with Quinnen Williams, but no deal appears imminent

One of the most important remaining items on the New York Jets‘ offseason agenda is locking up one of their own.

Quinnen Williams is coming off a first-team All-Pro season. It was the true breakout all Jets fans were seeking. He was the team MVP, one-man game-wrecker, and tone-setter that the Jets have lacked in the middle.

Now, he wants to be paid as such. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, though, the sides are not close to a deal. Cimini says “the two sides aren’t close to an agreement even though the second-contract market for top defensive tackles is clearly formed.”

The defensive tackle market has been set this offseason with the extensions of Daron Payne ($22.5 million per year), Jeffery Simmons ($23.5 million), and Dexter Lawrence ($22.5 million). Cimini previously speculated that Williams is seeking between $23 and $25 million per year, which would align with those numbers.

It would seem fairly straightforward to come to terms now that the market is set. The standard seems to be a four-year contract, so that’s likely a given. Williams is going to want a higher AAV than Simmons, so going up to $24 million or a bit above should get it done.

What is most likely under more serious contention is the guaranteed money and the structure of the guarantees. Simmons had $47.83 million due at signing and $66 million in total guarantees. Payne is at $46 million and $60 million, respectively. The full terms of Lawrence’s deal have not been released yet, but they figure to be in the same ballpark.

Though it’s hard to imagine that the sides are that far off, Williams has made some Twitter comments that could seem to indicate they are, indeed, not close to a deal. From his cryptic subtweet of Joe Douglas‘ comments about his deal to retweeting the announcement of Lawrence’s extension, Williams seems to be trying to send a message.

Still, Douglas runs a tight ship and has mostly kept the Jets’ beat out of the loop this offseason. Chances are that when the deal does come through, it will not be a Jets reporter breaking it.

Though the report is likely to make Jets fans uneasy, we’ve seen many “far apart” sides rapidly come together. Quinnen is due to have a baby any day, so he’s likely focusing on his family right now.

The Jets will take care of their best first-round pick from the 2010s decade.