Quinnen Williams continues to anchor the New York Jets‘ defensive front as the 2026 offseason unfolds, even as his former teammate Sam Darnold ascends to elite quarterback status on the opposite coast. The contrast between the two former Jets — one who stayed and became a franchise pillar, the other who left and resurrected his career — tells a compelling story about roster construction and player development in the modern NFL.
Darnold, the former first-round pick once branded a draft disappointment during his tenure in New York, has earned a top-10 quarterback ranking from prominent analyst Colin Cowherd, slotting in behind Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, and Matthew Stafford. The recognition marks a stunning turnaround for a signal-caller who struggled through multiple losing seasons with the Jets before finding a new home in Seattle.
Why Quinnen Williams Remains the Jets’ Defensive Foundation
While Darnold’s journey has captured headlines, Quinnen Williams has quietly built himself into one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in football. The Jets selected Williams with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he has since validated that investment with consistent double-digit sack production and elite run-stopping ability. His combination of first-step quickness and functional strength makes him a nightmare matchup for opposing offensive lines on every down.
Williams signed a contract extension worth over $96 million, making him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in league history. That deal was a statement of intent from the Jets’ front office: build around a dominant defensive line and let the rest of the roster follow. He has recorded at least 12 sacks in each of the past two seasons while commanding double teams on roughly 40% of his pass-rush snaps.
The Darnold Connection: A Tale of Two Careers
The Sporting News report highlighting Darnold’s top-10 ranking carries an ironic footnote for Jets fans. Seattle’s defense suffocated Caleb Williams — no relation — during the quarterback’s rookie campaign in a 6-3 final, a game that showcased the kind of defensive dominance the Jets have tried to build around their own Williams. The parallel between the two Williamses is impossible to ignore: one anchors a defense, the other was tormented by one.
Darnold’s arc from Jets draft bust to Seahawks franchise cornerstone is one of the most improbable in recent NFL memory. He was the third overall pick in 2018, one spot ahead of where the Jets would take Quinnen Williams a year later. Both were supposed to be franchise-defining selections. Only one delivered in New York.
Tracking this trend over three seasons, the divergence is stark. Darnold posted a passer rating below 75 in two of his three years with the Jets, while Quinnen Williams earned All-Pro honors twice in that same window. The Jets’ decision to move on from Darnold and double down on Williams looks better with each passing month.
Key Developments
- Colin Cowherd’s top-10 quarterback rankings placed Sam Darnold behind only Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, and Matthew Stafford
- Seattle’s defense held Caleb Williams to just 3 points during his rookie-year matchup against the Seahawks, a 6-3 final that foreshadowed the defensive identity the franchise has built
- Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, selected by the Jets one year before Quinnen Williams went third overall to the same franchise in 2019
- The Seahawks have built their roster around Darnold as the reigning Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Seattle, a remarkable turnaround for a player once considered a draft bust
What This Means for the Jets Going Forward
The Jets’ organizational philosophy has been clear: Quinnen Williams is the immovable object around which everything else revolves. While the quarterback position has remained a revolving door since Darnold’s departure, Williams has provided the kind of week-to-week dominance that keeps a team competitive even when the offense sputters. His ability to collapse the pocket from the interior forces opposing offenses into predictable passing situations, which in turn allows the Jets’ secondary to play more aggressively.
Based on available data, the Jets’ defensive EPA per play has ranked in the top five in each of Williams’ fully healthy seasons. That is not a coincidence. When Williams missed time with injury, the unit’s numbers dropped significantly, underscoring his irreplaceable role in Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme. The front office brass has acknowledged that building a championship-caliber roster starts with a dominant defensive line, and Williams is the engine that makes it all go.
The counterargument, of course, is that no amount of defensive dominance can compensate for quarterback play that ranks in the bottom third of the league. The Jets have cycled through multiple starters since Darnold left, and none have provided the kind of stability needed to truly contend. Williams can only do so much when the offense turns the ball over three times per game. New York’s next move at quarterback will determine whether Williams’ prime years translate into playoff wins or more regular-season frustration.
Looking at the tape, Williams’ technique against the guard-center combination is as refined as any defensive tackle in football. His swim move has become nearly unblockable in one-on-one situations, and his motor through the whistle sets the tone for the entire defensive front. The Jets’ investment in Williams was always about more than stats — it was about establishing an identity. That identity is now firmly in place, even as the search for a franchise quarterback continues.
How much is Quinnen Williams’ contract worth?
Quinnen Williams signed a contract extension worth over $96 million, making him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in NFL history. The deal was structured to keep him as the centerpiece of the Jets’ defensive line for the foreseeable future.
Where did Sam Darnold rank in Colin Cowherd’s quarterback list?
Colin Cowherd slotted Sam Darnold into his top-10 quarterback rankings, placing him behind Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, and Matthew Stafford. The nod recognized Darnold’s remarkable career resurgence with the Seattle Seahawks.
What was the score when Seattle’s defense faced Caleb Williams as a rookie?
Seattle’s defense suffocated Caleb Williams during his rookie campaign in a 6-3 final, a game that highlighted the defensive identity the Seahawks have built around their roster.
Was Sam Darnold a first-round pick of the New York Jets?
Sam Darnold was selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the franchise before being traded, one year before the Jets used the same draft position to select Quinnen Williams in 2019.
