The New York Jets did linebacker Quincy Williams a solid ahead of the 2025 season.
NFL analyst Will Parkinson revealed on social media: “According to a source, the Jets added incentives to Quincy Williams’ contract to increase his possible cash flow for 2025. The All-Pro will be a free agent after this season.”
According to a source the Jets added incentives to Quincy Williams contract to increase his possible cash flow for 2025. The All-Pro will be a free agent after this season.
— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) August 6, 2025
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This Move Will Help Keep the Peace With Williams
In March of 2023, the Jets extended Williams on a three-year $18 million contract. Initially, there was some speculation that the Jets might have overpaid. Months later, Williams was named a first-team All-Pro linebacker, and the deal then looked like the steal of the century.
The contract has only gotten better with time from a team perspective. However, for Williams, he has far outplayed his contract.
The $6 million annual salary Williams is scheduled to make ranks No. 35 among the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
In 2025, Williams enters the final year of his contract. This maneuver by the front office to add some incentives is a goodwill gesture. The team didn’t have to do this, but they recognized that Williams has outplayed his deal, so they did him a solid.
If he plays as well as he thinks he can, Williams can earn new money that will compensate him for that level of play.
Williams Has Rewarded That Gesture With a Renewed Mindset
Despite his uneven contract situation, Williams has fully participated throughout the offseason.
Minutes after being hired, head coach Aaron Glenn challenged Williams to take the next step as a leader and as a player.
“Coach challenged me on in the beginning,” Williams said after Tuesday’s OTA practice in his patented rapid-fire delivery via Jets contributor Randy Lange. “When he first got the job, he gave me a call. We had an hour-and-a-half conversation just on his vision and also me getting his vision to the players and stuff so we were all on the same page. And then he challenged me with a couple of things to work on this offseason and then to show it during the season.”
The former Murray State product has accepted that challenge, and it has shown on the field.
“Quincy Williams looks like All Pro Quincy Williams. He’s made 3/4 plays in coverage this summer few LBs in this league make that quickly. Just had 2 TFLS as well,” Parkinson said on July 31.
Quincy Williams looks like All Pro Quincy Williams. He’s made 3/4 plays in coverage this summer few LBs in this league make that quickly. Just had 2 TFLS as well
— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) July 31, 2025
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Williams Future With the Team Is Uncertain
The talented defender will turn 29 before the start of the 2025 season. By the time a new extension or contract would kick in, Williams would be 30.
How much more gas Williams has left in the tank is a fair question.
Additionally, the Jets have already handed out a duffel bag of cash to an off-ball-linebacker with Jamien Sherwood receiving $45 million.
Would they do a discount double check at the same position? Only one team in the NFL currently pays two off-ball linebackers $10 million plus per year, that’s the Chicago Bears.
