Jets add incentives to star defender's deal ahead of contract season

Williams will do so with the potential to increase his 2025 earnings, however. The Jets have added $1.5M in incentives to the final year of his pact, ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes. Williams was already owed a base salary of $6.5M, but his compensation for the year could see a slight bump as a result of this move.

Since being claimed off waivers from the Jaguars in 2021, Williams has operated as a full-time starter for New York. The former third-rounder has racked up between 106 and 139 tackles during his four Jets campaigns while adding nine sacks during that span. Quinnen Williams‘ older brother earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2023 and remained a core member of the team’s defense last season.

That is expected to be the case once more in 2025. Another productive outing from Williams would help his free-agent stock in the event he were to reach the open market next spring. The 28-year-old’s current pact averages $6M per season at a time when 16 inside linebackers are now into eight figures in annual compensation. One of those, of course, is Jamien Sherwood. Just before free agency, Sherwood re-signed with the Jets on a three-year, $45M pact containing $30M guaranteed.

New York’s regime led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn authorized a big-ticket deal in the form of Sherwood and has since worked out monster extensions with each of Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner. Especially with Sherwood set to lead the way in terms of linebacker compensation for years to come, it will be interesting to see if the team makes a new financial commitment to Williams next spring. For the time being, his attention will be focused on hitting his new incentives in advance of a potential free-agent departure.