Jets pick up Quinnen Williams' fifth-year option
Quinnen Williams #95 of the New York Jets pressures Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins in the end zone during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Jets exercised the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, a league source confirmed.
Jets general manager Joe Douglas said at the NFL Combine that they would pick up Williams’ option and officially did it Tuesday. The No. 3 pick out of Alabama in 2019, Williams is now locked up for this season at $10.5 million and 2023 for $11.5 million.
“We’re excited to have Quinnen,” Douglas said last month. “This is going to be Year 2 in a defense that we feel really accentuates his strengths, his positives. Looking forward for him to come back and dominate this offseason and have a great year.”
Williams is a huge piece to Robert Saleh’s defensive front four that the Jets hope can be more disruptive with edge rusher Carl Lawson returning from an Achilles injury that sidelined him all of last season. Lawson’s presence should take some of the double-teams away from Williams, allowing his production to rise.
Last season, Williams tied for the team lead with six sacks and was second with 12 quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss. Williams led the Jets in all three categories (seven sacks, 14 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss) in 2020.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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