Content available exclusively for subscribers
Phoenix – Jets GM was asked some questions about topics . . .
other than Aaron Rodgers at the NFL Owner’s Meeting in Phoenix, believe it or not, and one was about the re-signing of linebacker Quincy Williams.
“Bringing Quincy Williams back is just outstanding,” Douglas said. “To see his growth in our linebacker room the last two years.
“We know what a dynamic and explosive defensive player Quincy. His hits can change the momentum of games.”
That is so true, but obviously, there is more to being a great linebacker than big hits.
He is one of the more ferocious hitters in the NFL, regardless of position.
And his hits do set a tone.
However, when you look at his contract, it’s clear some things aside from the hitting need to improve.
Williams got a 3-year, $18 million contract with 9 million guaranteed.
Hey, it’s life-changing money. Good for the player and his family, but it’s not a monster contract if you will.
In 2019, a speedy linebacker, who covers a lot of ground like Williams, named Deion Jones, signed a four-year deal for $57 million with $34 million guaranteed.
And that was four years ago.
The reason I bring up Jones is to explain why Williams didn’t get more.
Over the first three years of his career, before landing that huge contract, Jones had 8 picks and 27 PDs. Over the first four years of Williams’ career, two in Jacksonville, and two with the Jets, he had 0 picks and 7 PDs.
Last year with the Jets, in a contract year, he had 0 picks and 1 PD. For a linebacker who drops into coverage, to have a total of 1 PD in 15 starts, isn’t ideal.
Sometimes a problem linebackers have in coverage is they just can’t run with a lot of players they are asked to cover.
But that isn’t an issue for Williams, one of the faster linebackers in the league. You see it. When he blitzes, it looks like he was shot out of cannon. You see him cover a lot of ground in run support to track down ball carriers.
Speed is not an issue for this player.
Perhaps it’s coverage instincts:
When Williams came out of Murray State, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zeirlein wrote about the linebacker, “Instincts are slightly below average (and) can be slow to see it unfold and respond.”
So Williams has been pedestrian in coverage so far, and that is why the contract was good, not great.
It’s also the reason the Jets need to add a coverage linebacker in the draft, not to replace Williams, but to compliment him.
This is a bigger need than most would lead you to believe unless Jamien Sherwood becomes that coverage linebacker the Jets so desperately need in 2023. Maybe Hamsah Nasrildeen and Chazz Surratt can help.
Because covering tight ends was a big problem for the Jets last year.
This needs to change.
This is another example of why the Jets’ defense isn’t as top-shelf as some would lead you to believe.
They have some work to do.
March 29, 2023
Premium will return by 9:30 pm or sooner on Thursday.