Jets general manager Joe Douglas met with the media for his pre-draft press conference and one of the topics was about the contract discussions with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Williams is entering his fifth-year option season with the Jets and is set to make about $9.6 million. Coming off a 12-sack season and being named All-Pro, Williams is in search of a new contract near or at the top of the defensive tackle market which would put him at about $24 million-$25 million per year.
Douglas said he is “optimistic” and that things are “trending to a good place” regarding those contract extensions.
Joe Douglas said he's "optimistic" and that the #jets and Quinnen Williams are "trending to a good place" on a contract extension.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) April 25, 2023
However, Williams doesn’t seem to be on the same level of thinking as Douglas.
“Optimistic” https://t.co/0ZeL7P0Mec pic.twitter.com/UmCbFUxhjb
— Quinnen Williams (@QuinnenWilliams) April 25, 2023
Clearly, Williams is starting to get a little frustrated at seemingly being put on the backburner while the Jets went after Aaron Rodgers. There is still time, certainly, for this to get done, but it would be best for everyone involved for this deal to get done sooner rather than later.
Of course, the Jets have to figure out their cap situation regarding Rodgers and then taking their draft picks into account. Perhaps after then they can focus on Williams’ contract.
So we go from one waiting game (Rodgers trade) to another (Williams’ contract). Let the games begin again.