Jeffery Simmons extension proves Jets dodged a bullet with Quinnen Williams

When the New York Jets traded away Quinnen Williams at last year's deadline, it was certainly a sad day for longtime fans.

Williams was one of the longest-tenured Jets, racking up four Pro Bowls and an All-Pro in seven seasons with New York. But, at 28-years-old, the former first-round draft pick was ready for a change of scenery.

He didn't seek one publicly, but SNY's Connor Hughes reported after the deadline that Williams requested a trade on three separate occasions before he was finally dealt to the Dallas Cowboys.

Had the Jets not traded Williams, they would've had to have given him a new contract. The former Alabama standout has two years remaining on his current deal, and there's little guaranteed money remaining.

Considering the current state of the defensive tackle market, it's safe to say the Jets dodged a major financial bullet by cutting ties with Williams when they did.

Jets may have had to pay Quinnen Williams Jeffery Simmons money

This offseason, multiple premier defensive tackles have cashed in on big extensions, the latest being Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Friday evening that the Titans had agreed to terms on a three-year, $105.8 million contract with their star defensive tackle, with $100 million of it guaranteed.

It set the record for the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle in NFL history, and it sets a baseline for what Williams' next contract may look like with the Cowboys.

Spotrac expects Williams to sign a three-year, $94 million deal with Dallas, which would make him the third-highest-paid defensive tackle in football under Simmons and Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones.

Williams is absolutely deserving of a contract of that caliber. He's one of the NFL's best run defenders and is a massive presence opposing offenses have to account for.

But for the Jets, paying a defensive tackle that kind of money in the midst of a rebuild is not in their best interest. Despite his talents, New York has too many other holes in their roster to worry about to warrant dedicating that much to one player.

Williams will be missed by fans. You can make the case that he's the best player the Jets have had in the last decade.

But it was time for a fresh start on both sides, and the Simmons extension proves that.

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