Content available exclusively for subscribers
In July of 2023, Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams signed a four-year deal for $96 million extension with $66 million guaranteed.
His average annual salary of $24 million makes him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in football.
When you pay a defensive tackle that kind of money, you expect them to wreck games. Not every week, but sometimes.
This week’s Jets-Tampa Bay game is one of those games that Williams must wreck, and there is no excuse for him not to.
The Tampa offensive line situation is an utter disaster due to injuries.
Both Bucs’ starting offensive tackles are out – left tackle Tristan Wirfs and right tackle Luke Goedeke.
I’m not sure how much the Jets will be able to take advantage of that, given their thinness at defensive end with Jermaine Johnson out (my venture into medicine yesterday proves I should stick to sports writing – wearing flip-flops with no wrap on either ankle doesn’t mean much). So Tampa Bay will just have to worry about Will McDonald with their backup offensive tackles.
But the bigger issues should be inside. To replace Wirfs, they moved center Graham Barton to left tackle, and moved left guard Ben Bredeson to center. Now, with right guard Cody Mauch going on IR this week, they will have three backups playing on the interior. Yes, Bredeson is a starting guard, but not a starting center. Also out is backup guard, Michael Jordan.
So this is a game where Williams needs to show why he makes $24 million a year.
While this story was glossed over by the media while they canonized him, Williams’ run defense was substandard the last couple of years. If you don’t believe me, ask him.
He said in the spring, when asked what he needed to improve:
“A lot of mistakes, man, especially when it comes down to the run game,” Williams said.
So whether it’s again the run or as an interior pass rush, there is no excuse for Williams not to resemble Aaron Donald this week.
If he’s worth the money they are paying him, he should be in the conversation for “AFC Defensive Player of the Week” after this game . . .
Speaking of defensive tackles, another guy they need a big game from is Harrison Phillips. Not sure he’s 100 percent healthy. He seemed to be hobbling around a little after the last game with what looked kind of leg issue, perhaps a knee. But this guy is tough as boot leather, and it would take an act of Congress to keep the Omaha-native out of a game.
While the Jets’ run defense was lousy last week, you could tell in the last two games, that this cat knows what he’s doing as a run defender. He’s a true technician against the run with great run defense instincts. He’s a good partner inside for Williams – they complement each other well. Phillips is a large, corn-fed lineman who is good against the run and at taking up double teams, and Williams is a good interior pass rusher who is good at shooting gaps with quickness, playing in the 280s.
It would be shocking if the Williams-Phillips combo doesn’t shine this week.
Another guy to keep an eye on is Leonard Taylor.
Taylor, a very athletic second-year defensive tackle out of Miami, should give fits to the backup trio starting for Tampa Bay on the offensive line. And expected Taylor to be extra juiced, playing in his home state in front of friends and family . . .
Even if he’s active on game day, the Jets need to think twice about starting Tony Adams (hip).
He’s a tough guy who will try to gut it out for the team, but he’s clearly not 100 percent.
Who would you rather have starting a 100 percent Malachi Moore, or a let’s say, for argument’s sake, a 70 percent Adams?
Many would say Moore, especially since Adams is a tad inconsistent.
Also, starting Adams, without a full week of practice, is probably not a great idea. He’s a young player who needs all the reps, much like Justin Fields.
Sometimes, seasoned, established vets can play without practicing during the week, and fare fine on Sunday.
But that doesn’t apply to all players, especially young ones.
So even if Adams is active, they should probably start Moore.
September 19, 2025
Premium will return by 11:30 pm (or sooner) on Sunday from Tampa Bay.
