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Jets DT Quinnen Williams had a bit of a down 2024, and it’s reflected in how the league ranked him.
Just a couple of short years ago, New York Jets star Quinnen Williams was one of the most valuable assets in the NFL. Breaking out with a 12-sack 2022 campaign, the former No. 3 overall pick made the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Entering the 2025 season, Williams has kept his Pro Bowl streak alive. He’s failed to capture his 2022 form, though, and it’s being reflected in his rank among his peers.
In the annual “Top 100 Players” list from the NFL, the players voted Williams as the 87th-best in the sport. That marks a staggering 50-spot drop from his 2024 rank.
Despite Drop Down List, Jets’ Quinnen Williams ‘Force to Be Reckoned With’
Digital content producer Bobby Kownack expands on Williams’ inclusion. While acknowledging a letdown 2024, Kownack still believes the 27-year-old is a premier talent and could be poised for a bounce-back effort.
“Williams is good enough that even down years net Pro Bowls,” Kownack wrote. “The affable DT, a Pro Bowler three seasons straight, remains a force to be reckoned with, though he wasn’t his usual run-stuffing self in 2024. His 50-spot drop in the Top 100 mirrors the 32.9 decrease in his PFF run defense grade (90.4 to 57.5). Regardless, Williams was — as always — a plus-pass rusher from the interior, and you can bet he’s raring to reclimb the ranks under a new regime in Gotham.”
Kownack also included that, per NFL Pro, Williams posted the fifth-highest early-down pressure rate among qualified defensive tackles last season. That’s no surprise, yet it’s still good reassurance. When at his peak, Williams can manage to wreck a game. The problem is he simply didn’t peak very often a season ago.
Making 16 regular-season starts, Williams recorded 37 tackles (8 for loss), 18 quarterback hits and 6 sacks. For the first time ever, he didn’t register a single pass defended or forced fumble. His 54 total pressures ranked seventh among all interior linemen according to Pro Football Focus, with his 38 hurries being sixth. Indeed, even a “down” year for Williams is a good one for most tackles.
All-Pro Tackle Raves About Williams’ ‘Elite’ Power-Speed Blend
Although Williams’ peers didn’t rank him as high this year, there remains tons of respect for the Jets’ best defensive lineman. In the NFL’s video for Williams, Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive tackle Lane Johnson had high praise.
First and foremost, Johnson raved about the blend of power and speed Williams has. It’s the same combination that led to him recording a sparkling 9.84 Relative Athletic Score prior to the 2019 NFL Draft.
“Tremendous long arms,” Johnson said. “He’s getting double-teamed, but he does a good job of getting skinny. I just think his power and his speed is elite. Guys have a hard time of getting their hands on him. He’s so strong, and he does a good job of evading them.”
Johnson believes the Jets’ brand of defense suits their star.
“I like the way the Jets play, their style of play,” Johnson said. “They do a good job of kind of, they play the run as they’re rushing the quarterback. They have a more up-the-field style of play, and I think that fits what he does.”
Counting this season, Williams has three years remaining on his $96 million contract extension. New York can’t and won’t realistically consider getting out of it. Even with his per-snap run defense declining and his pass rush productivity not being downright elite, he still turned in a year many linemen would dream of. There’s something to build on.
Now, it’s his job to help the Jets’ defense climb with coaches Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks leading the way.
Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with an emphasis on the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has years of experience publishing NFL and MLB content for Sports Illustrated’s On SI vertical, in addition to a background in NBA coverage for multiple outlets. Foote is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. He’s based in Kansas City. More about Jordan Foote
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