NY Jets shouldn’t rush a Quincy Williams extension after Jamien Sherwood deal

The NY Jets re-signed linebacker Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million contract on Sunday night. Following the Sherwood deal, all eyes are likely to be on his running mate, fellow linebacker Quincy Williams.

Williams is entering the last year of his contract in 2025, meaning he is due for a new deal. He is significantly underpaid for the value he provides, now making $9 million less per year than Sherwood.

It is unlikely that Williams is keen on waiting until the 2026 offseason for a new contract, but the Jets are likely still multiple years away from competing for a championship. There is no point in making rash decisions that will heavily impact the long-term future.

Everyone can agree that keeping Williams around would be ideal. Over his four seasons in New York, he has been a standout, starting 48 of 49 games, never recording fewer than 100 combined tackles, and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023.

But there's no need to make a call before they have to.

The NY Jets should wait on a Quincy Williams extension

There are a few factors at play here. One is the obvious fact that Quincy Williams is the brother of the Jets defensive captain, Quinnen Williams.

This is the same Quinnen Williams who was already not happy with the Jets earlier in the offseason. He made this public for all to see on X (formerly Twitter). Not that the Jets should be beholden to all his whims and emotions, but it is a notable point here.

Another factor is the financial commitment required to keep Williams. Pairing his contract with Sherwood’s new deal would create a significant cap hit, especially if Williams commands a similar figure to Sherwood’s $15 million annual value. That’s a hefty investment in two linebackers.

This isn’t to say they wouldn’t be worth the investment — Williams and Sherwood form an elite linebacking duo. However, linebackers over 30 often start to decline. Instead of rushing into an extension, why not evaluate Williams’ performance in 2025 before determining his long-term value?

We also don’t know what the salary cap situation will look like in 2026 and beyond. The Jets aren’t done in free agency, and there’s still a chance they add a defensive back this offseason— a move that would undoubtedly impact their financial planning for the future.

The Jets may choose to prioritize the secondary, investing more capital in that area instead of committing to Williams long-term. If that’s the case, they could explore trading him or simply have him play out the 2025 season before testing free agency.

With so many moving parts and variables at play, it’s impossible to map out the perfect plan for the Jets just yet. However, one thing is clear: they shouldn’t rush. There may be internal pressure to act quickly on Williams, but patience is the smarter approach.

That hasn't been the modus operandi since general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn took over. If Williams or even his older brother don't like it, then they're going to have to deal with it.

The Jets still have the leverage here, and too much time in front of them to make a decision this soon.

More NY Jets news and analysis: