Should the Jets give a bigger contract to Quinnen Williams than the one the Buffalo Bills gave to Ed Oliver?
The Buffalo Bills signed defensive tackle Ed Oliver to a four-year contract extension worth $68 million. He was drafted with the ninth overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft.
Quinnen Williams, on the other hand, was drafted with the third overall pick of that same draft by the New York Jets. With his unique skill sets, he was touted as the ‘next generation of pass-rush D-linemen’ to come out of college. As a rookie in 2019, he showed flashes of his potential and quick acceleration but finished with just 2.5 sacks. He showed immense improvement in the next two seasons with 7 sacks in 2020 and and 6 sacks in 2021.
2022 was his breakout season. In Week 6 against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, Williams had 5 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal which earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Quinnen’s blocked 47 yard field goal attempt of kicker Mason Crosby kept the game scoreless in the second quarter. After missing a game with a calf injury, he showed his value to the team in a critical Week 16 matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars to qualify for the NFL playoffs. He sacked quarterback Trevor Lawrence on the first play of the game and forced a fumble which the Jets recovered at the Jaguars 16 yard line. Later Quinnen broke up a screen play and batted a pass intended for running back JaMycal Hasty which the Jets nearly intercepted. Quinnen finished the season with 55 tackles, 12 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. For all his achievements, he was named first-team All-Pro.
Ed Oliver ended the 2022 season with 20 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 1 safety. Although his statistics are not impressive for a player drafted ninth overall, he was part of the Bills defense that ranked top 5 in every category last year.
As good as Oliver is, Quinnen is the better defensive tackle. Williams put up more impressive stats and he made his teammates raise their level of play. As the offensive line double teamed him every series to hold him back from getting to the quarterback, it allowed his defensive line to win their one-on-one matchups and frequently pressure the QB. Yet even the double teams didn’t stop him from sacking the passer. Or taking down the running back behind the line of scrimmage as his 12 tackles for loss proved.
Quinnen’s pressure on the QB helped the secondary. Quarterbacks were forced to release the football quicker which meant less time that cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner had to defend receivers on the field. The secondary’s improvement in coverage was one of the reasons why newcomer Reed had a solid season for Gang Green and why rookie Gardner was named a first-team All-Pro.
Williams brings tremendous value to the Jets. His absence was felt when he missed the Detroit Lions game with an injury. Jared Goff was not sacked or pressured by the defense in the New York loss. But as soon as Quinnen returned the next week versus Jacksonville, he made an immediate impact when he sacked Trevor Lawrence on the first play of the game.
Williams deserves a bigger contract than the one Ed Oliver got from the Bills. The Jets DT is a difference maker on the team and he makes his teammates play better. His talents are irreplaceable and at 25 years old, he is just entering into his prime. Gang Green should lock up the Pro Bowl player to a long term deal and make him a Jet for life.
