Jets' Joe Douglas Has Unfinished Business to Address

General manager will be spending significant time at negotiating table in coming days

Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com

New York Jets' general manager Joe Douglas has some work to do in the two-plus weeks prior to the start of training camp.

First, neither of the team's top two 2023 draft picks has signed his rookie contract yet.

Including the Jets' Will McDonald, only eight of the 31 first-round selections remain unsigned around the NFL. Edge rushers Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Luke Van Ness, all of whom were drafted ahead of McDonald, have inked deals with their respective teams.

McDonald, the No. 15 overall pick, was one of seven edge defenders taken in Round 1, but he is the only one yet to finalize a contract.

The Jets must also agree to terms with second-rounder Joe Tippmann, who was the first center off the board and the No. 43 choice overall.

John Michael Schmitz, who went to the New York Giants at No. 57 in the draft order, inked a four-year deal reportedly worth $6.3 million back in May. Schmitz was the next center selected after Tippmann went to the Jets.

The likelihood is high for the rookie deals to be completed in time for training camp, which kicks off July 19 in Florham Park. Since 2011, when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement took effect, the negotiating process for drafted players has changed drastically. The CBA features a rookie wage scale that slots players based upon draft position.

There no longer exists much room for negotiation with only minor issues involving guaranteed money and bonuses being up for discussion between draftees and team brass.

The two draft picks present a small challenge compared to the heavy lifting Douglas must do in order to lock up All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

Designated to play the 2023 campaign on the fifth-year option, Williams is seeking a new deal that pays market value. Productive defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence (Giants), Daron Payne (Commanders) and Jeffery Simmons (Titans) all recently received contracts that carry a $22+ million average annual value.

DT Quinnen Williams stops Bills' QB Josh Allen in the Jets' 20-17 win / © Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com

Williams, who welcomed a newborn into his family in May, did not attend the Jets' voluntary OTAs this spring. The former No. 3 overall draft pick is coming off a 2022 season during which he recorded a career-high 12.0 sacks and 28 quarterback hits.

Jets' head coach Robert Saleh has expressed confidence that Williams and the organization will reach a resolution prior to the start of the NFL Preseason.

"I’ll let the business guys handle all that stuff, but it’s going to get done. He’ll be here for camp, he’ll be ready to roll and once he is," said Saleh during OTAs on June 6.

As the players' summer break winds down, the "business guys" have plenty of business to do over at 1 Jets Drive. 

.@SInow Player Position Rankings suggest Quinnen Williams will get PAID 💰 #Jets #TakeFlight https://t.co/XPJUlpRy6W

— Jets Pigskin (@JetsPigskin) June 8, 2023

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