WATCH: Jets reach four-year deal with rookie Quinnen Williams
The wait is finally over.
Rookie defensive lineman Quinnen Williams agreed to a four-year, $32.5 million contract with the Jets on Thursday, according to the New York Post's Brian Costello. The signing bonus is $21.7 million and there's a fifth-year team option.
Williams will now report to training camp beginning on Friday, having only missed one day of action. The No. 3 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft was the last unsigned first-round selection.
Williams began his holdout last Friday on the first day for rookies to report, with the dispute pertaining to the amount of his signing bonus that would be deferred for next year. It's being reported by NFL.com's Ian Rapoport that Williams will get 75 percent of the bonus now and 25 percent will be deferred for next season.
Last season at Alabama, Williams amassed eight sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and 71 tackles in 15 games. The 6-foot-3, 303-pound Williams earned unanimous first-team All-American honors and captured the Outland Trophy, a distinction bestowed to the nation's top interior lineman.
Williams ranked eighth in Heisman Trophy voting and is the highest defensive player ever chosen in the history of the Jets.
Alabama coach Nick Saban describes what makes Williams special.
“I think it's his initial quickness and his ability to use his hands, play with leverage, get off blocks quickly,” Saban said according to New York Jets.com. “He’s athletic, so he’s a really good pass rusher. He’s not a gigantic, huge, overpowering guy, but the rest of it is perfect for this day and age of football. I go back to the initial quickness and the use of his hands. This guy is a really smart, instinctive player. I think sometimes people overlook how that impacts someone’s production and his production here was fabulous.”
Williams is adamant that his game will translate to the pros in a major way.
“Dominant, fast, speed, furious, ready to go,” Williams said to New York Jets.com. “I’m ready to get out there and ready to get sacks. I’m a dominant force up front.”
It's great that Williams' contract dispute is now in the past and he can start getting reps to work towards making this a special rookie campaign. The potential is certainly there for Williams to make an immediate impact.
