Former New York Jets third overall pick Quinnen Williams has received his anticipated payday.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Williams and the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms on a three-year, $105.9 million contract extension.
The deal places his AAV (Average Annual Value) at $35.3 million, now ranking second among all interior defensive linemen, trailing only Jalen Carter of the Philadelphia Eagles at $38 million. In terms of total value, it is the third-largest contract at the position, trailing Carter ($152 million) and Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs ($158.8 million).
Williams, 28, was acquired by the Dallas Cowboys at the NFL’s trade deadline in 2025. The Jets received a 2027 first-round pick (the higher choice between the Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers), a 2026 second-round selection, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The 2026 second-rounder amounted to cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
The 28-year-old wasted no time making his presence felt in Dallas. From Weeks 11-18, he led all defensive tackles in Pro Football Focus’ overall defensive grade at 85.1, while his six quarterback hits were tied for the second most over that span.
Following the trade, it was reported that Williams had requested a trade out of New York on multiple occasions leading up to the final deal. When looking at the return, it’s hard to fault the Jets for making the trade.
While Williams’ lucrative payday is well-deserved and ultimately inevitable, it didn’t make sense for the Jets to make such a significant financial commitment to a defensive tackle entering his age-29 season, given their timeline.
Since the deal, the Jets have rebounded strongly at the defensive tackle position.
Jowon Briggs ascended following the Williams trade, putting up numbers that didn’t rank too far off from the new Cowboys star. Is Briggs the same level of player as Williams? He’s certainly not as established yet, but he finished the season as one of the league’s top defensive tackles, and at 24 years old, he is due to keep climbing.
New York also added T’Vondre Sweat and David Onyemata in the offseason.
Williams got his payday, while the Jets still have what looks like a solid interior defensive line and plenty of assets to move the franchise in a new direction. It seems like a win-win for both parties.
