Content available exclusively for subscribers
This isn’t as easy a deal as some would lead you to believe.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini’s reported over the weekend about the Jets contract negotiations with Quinnen Williams – “The two sides aren’t close to an agreement even though the second-contract market for top defensive tackles is clearly formed.”
This isn’t as easy as it sounds.
People tend to just say, “Pay the man.”
And I’m not just talking about Cimini. I’m talking about basically everybody writing or talking about this story.
So many people assume that now that free agent defensive tackles, like Dexter Lawrence (Football Giants), Duron Payne (Washington Commanders) and Jeffrey Simmons (Tennessee Titans) all got their big second contracts, like Williams is looking for, you just pay him in the ballpark of what these guys got.
Lawrence and Payne got an average of $22.5 million per season, and Simmons got $23.5 million per.
If you are looking at the film closely, it’s just not that simple.
Yes, Williams is a heck of an interior pass rusher, who finished with 12.5 sacks last year, a great total for a defensive tackle.
And yes, he’s probably the better interior pass rusher than Simmons, Payne and Lawrence.
However, and I’m going to get into a third-rail issue other writers don’t seem to want to touch, or aren’t aware of – Williams is inconsistent against the run.
And it’s hard to have an elite defense if you struggle to stop the run up the middle, and the Jets have struggled with that the last couple of years. It’s not all Williams, but he’s certainly part of it.
On the 60-yard run to start the Seattle game, Williams was pushed to the right by left tackle Charles Cross and Walker went to the hole on the left where Williams was. Carl Lawson got pushed toward the right sideline, and the runner went between Williams and Lawson.
Late in the Miami game, the Dolphins were driving to set up a potential game-winning field, and on second-and-9 from NYJ 38, running back Salvon Ahmed went off left guard for a gain of 7 yards to set up a 50-yard field goal a couple of plays later. On the play, backup tackle Greg Little locked up Williams opening a big hole.
I’m not nitpicking, There are plenty of other examples.
Look, I have no skin in the game or an agenda here. I’m just trying to call balls and strikes.
Simmons, Payne and Lawrence are all outstanding against the run.
It should be pointed out they are all bigger than Williams, so that helps.
People either aren’t watching the games closely, or chose to ignore Williams being up-and-down against the run so they don’t upset his agent.
So no, this isn’t as simple as just giving Williams more than three guys that got paid, unless think the most important job of a defensive tackle is to rush the passer.
Yes, interior pass rush is very important, but if you get gashed a lot up the middle against the run, you’ve got issues as a defense.
Now teaming Williams with a bigger partner would help, so the addition of Al Woods should help.
Look, Williams deserves a really nice contract, but probably not the top deal at the position due to the run-defense issues.
Maybe something in the range of Washington’s Jonathan Allen – $18 million per – would make sense.
May 9, 2023
Premium will return by 9:30 pm or sooner on Wednesday.