Quinnen Williams was next in line among the NFL’s best defensive tackles, waiting his turn to get paid and take advantage of the burgeoning market at his position.
With the Jets opening up their summer training camp next week, the wait is over for Williams.
He got paid. Royally.
Williams and the Jets on Thursday agreed on a massive contract extension — four years, $96 million, including $66 million in guaranteed money, the Post confirmed.
The deal makes Williams the second highest-paid defensive tackle in the league.
He is behind only standard-bearer Aaron Donald of the Rams, who is entering the second year of a three-year deal worth $95 million.
The Jets open up their training camp on July 19 and now they know their star defensive tackle is signed, sealed and delivered.
It was all out there for the 25-year old Williams, as earlier this offseason the top end of the market at defensive tackle was set as the Titans gave Jeffrey Simmons a four-year deal worth $94 million, the Giants gave Dexter Lawrence a four-year deal worth $90 million and the Commanders gave Daron Payne a four-year deal worth $90 million.
It was only a matter of how close Williams would get to Donald and his $31.7 million annual average.
The negotiations never grew overly contentious but they did break into the public via social media.
Williams previously scrubbed his Twitter account of any mention of the Jets, changing his bio to read “Defensive Tackle for … ‘’
This week, he once again included the New York Jets in his Twitter bio.
Williams, predictably, did not participate this past spring in the Jets’ offseason workout program, which was voluntary.
He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama and has lived up to that lofty draft status, getting better with age.
He established career highs in 2022 in sacks (12), quarterback hits (28) and tackles for loss (12) as the premier player on a top-five NFL defense.
The sacks and quarterback hits far surpassed his production in any of his first three NFL seasons.
Thus, it came as no surprise that Williams made his first Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro.
The pass rush production eruption was enough to push Williams near the top of the league’s salary scale at his position.
In his first four seasons and 57 games, Williams has 27.5 sacks, 191 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 60 quarterback hits.
Williams had been under contract for $9.6 million for the 2023 season.
The Jets were committed to making this happen with Williams, whose older brother, Quincy, is a linebacker on the team.
General manager Joe Douglas earlier in the offseason said he was “hopeful and optimistic’’ a deal would be finalized with Williams.
Williams saw that video featuring Douglas’ remarks and responded on Twitter by posting “optimistic’’ with a meme of himself sipping a cup of tea.
The Jets’ defense was often dominant in 2022 with Williams as the centerpiece.
The unit finished fourth in the league for fewest points allowed (18.6 per game), fourth in total yards allowed (311.1), third in passing yards allowed (189.4) and 16th in rushing yards allowed (121.6).
It did not hurt that cornerback Sauce Gardner lived up to expectations and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This offseason, the Jets added to their defense by signing veteran defensive linemen Al Woods and Quinton Jefferson, trading for safety Chuck Clark and selecting edge rusher Will McDonald from Iowa State with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Clark tore his ACL in an organized team activity practice and is out for the season.
The trade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers puts the Jets in a spotlight, as they have a franchise-record six prime time games scheduled for this season.
The Jets managed to win seven games in 2022 despite atrocious play at quarterback, staying competitive largely because their defense was so solid.
Now they know Williams, one of their most indispensable and best players, is locked in for the near future.