The No. 3 overall pick of this year’s NFL Draft was the final alumnus of the University of Alabama to sign his professional contract.
Quinnen Williams signed his four-year contract for the New York Jets on Thursday, via announcement from the team on Twitter. He was the franchise’s first pick of the venue and someone that head coach Adam Gase believes gives the group an identity on defense.
In his lone season as a starter for the Crimson Tide, Williams frustrated offensive coordinators, sucked up running backs and punished quarterbacks. At 6-foot-3, 303 pounds, the Birmingham (Ala.) native totaled 71 tackles in 2018 – including a team-high 19.5 for loss with eight sacks.
Williams shared the team lead in quarterback pressures (12) and guided the group to a Southeastern Conference Championship and its fifth consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff.
He was selected as one of two unanimous All-Americans (Jonah Williams) while winning the Outland Trophy. Williams put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, displaying a skillset of power and speed that is rare among most 300-pound athletes.
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His 40-time of 4.83 seconds had pro scouts stunned in disbelief.
He was widely-regarded as the safest pick in the draft and because of this, Williams has a contract worth $32.53 million and it’s all guaranteed.
His deal comes with a $21.68 million signing bonus and the average salary for him will be $8.13 million – according to Spotrac.
With the addition of C.J. Mosley in free agency, the Jets anticipate having a defense that will terrorize the AFC East and propel the team into the playoffs. Williams, whose overall rating of 80 in Madden 20 was the highest among rookies, eyes a massive first season in the NFL.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
