Quinnen Williams - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Tebow, Dolphins, Broncos, Jets

May 7th, 2021 at 10:29pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

A Tim Tebow to the Jaguars deal is starting to look more and more likely. The news of Tebow trying to come out of retirement as a tight end came completely out of left field, but Jacksonville is seemingly taking it quite seriously. Head coach Urban Meyer acknowledged at the time that the team would explore signing Tebow in the near future, and now ownership is endorsing the prospect. “Tim has definitely come in and worked out,” Tony Khan, son of Jags owner Shad Khan, told BleacherReport.com, via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com. “So beyond that, I can’t say too much, but Tim has come in and worked out as a tight end. That’s not a position that we’ve seen him play, but it’s a position that he’s been practicing at with us.”

“Urban really believes he can help us, and I think it makes a lot of sense. And it’s a position where we need to get better.” That last sentence is the money quote that makes it sound like the Jaguars signing Tebow is a matter of when, not if. Obviously Tebow played for Meyer at Florida, and if the new head coach and shot caller wants him back as a reserve tight end, the front office isn’t going to stand in the way. Jacksonville is thin at the position right now, and crazier things have happened. Assuming he gets signed, it’ll be entertaining if nothing else.

Here’s more from the AFC:

Some teams, like the Packers, have announced their initial phase of offseason workouts would remain virtual and that players with workout bonuses could receive them by logging their attendance at the virtual sessions. The Dolphins won’t be one of those teams. Miami will only be giving players with workout bonuses their money if they are in the building later this month, a source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. That doesn’t mean it’s a coaching decision, as Jackson writes that one agent told him Dolphins head coach Brian Flores “has been respectful of the players’ position on the NFLPA issue and hasn’t tried to pressure them.” The NFLPA, of course, is pushing teams to proceed with entirely virtual offseason voluntary workouts. Jackson notes that there are “nearly a dozen” Dolphins players with workout bonuses who will now face a dilemma. The Dolphins were one of the many teams whose players issued a statement through the NFLPA to “stand in solidarity” with players skipping the workouts. Receivers DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson, and Jakeem Grant have workout bonuses of $100K, $75K, and $50K respectively on the line.
The Broncos recently drafted Ohio State linebacker Jonathon Cooper in the seventh-round, who played in college with a heart condition. Now, Cooper is having a procedure to correct the issue, Mike Klis of Denver 9 News writes. While it’s hard to read ‘heart procedure’ and not get a little alarmed, thankfully Klis writes that it’s a “minimally invasive” operation that will only sidelined him for a few weeks. Cooper won’t be able to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp, which is a tough blow for any seventh-rounder, but he is “expected to be ready for the start of training camp, if not sooner.” Here’s to hoping everything goes smoothly with the ablation procedure.
Speaking of offseason surgeries, the Jets’ Quinnen Williams just had one too. The third overall pick of the 2019 draft had surgery for a broken bone in his foot on Thursday, according to Joey Chandler of NJ.com. Fortunately, new Jets coach Robert Saleh said he believes Williams will be back for training camp. “It could have been worse, because those types of injuries are injuries that it is just something that eventually was going to happen so for it to happen now so they can get him fixed and be ready for training camp rather than it happening in training camp and now he’s missing half the season,” Saleh said optimistically. Williams made major strides last season, and showed flashes of the dominant player the Jets hoped they were getting in 2019. Hopefully this injury doesn’t stall any of that progress.

Jets’ Quinnen Williams Suffers Injury

May 4th, 2021 at 10:07am CST by Zachary Links

Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams broke a small bone in his foot (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero). Williams should be fine for the start of the season, but his surgery will require 8-10 weeks of recovery.

Williams won’t be present for OTAs or minicamp, but the expectation is that he’ll be good to go for training camp. Williams, who wants to be a “Jet for life,” is looking to build off of an impressive 2020 campaign. In 13 games (all starts), the former No. 3 overall pick notched 55 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. Unfortunately, his season ended on injured reserve with a neck injury.

In years past, Williams has heard his name floated in trade rumors. But, even in the midst of a rough year for Gang Green, they rebuffed all midseason inquiries. At this point, Williams is optimistic that he’ll be staying for the long haul.

“I just handle what I can handle, just control what I can control,” Williams said earlier this year. “Just go out and work hard as I can for any team that I’m on. Hopefully it’s the Jets so I can play with Coach (Robert) Saleh, but any team I’m on, I just work my hardest so that when that comes around I can be the best player I can be.”

DT Quinnen Williams Wants To Be A “Jet For Life”

February 25th, 2021 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Armed with the second-overall pick and a new head coach, the Jets will surely see some major changes next season. However, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is hoping to stick around for the makeover. During an appearance on CBS Sports Radio, Williams stated his desire to stay in New York for the long haul.

“Yeah, I’d be disappointed,” Williams said when asked about the possibility of a trade (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “I really want to be a Jet for life. I like New York and I want to play in New York. I’d be disappointed if they traded me and didn’t tell me.”

The 23-year-old was the third-overall pick only two years ago, and following a disappointing rookie campaign, he showed much more of his promise in 2020. Williams started each of his 13 games this past year, compiling 55 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. His season ended on the injured reserve with a neck injury.

Following that underwhelming rookie campaign, there were rumblings that Williams could be on the trade block. Reports at the time indicated that the Jets would want more than a second-round pick for the young defensive lineman, while others believed the organization was merely listening to offers (as opposed to actively shopping him). Those rumors could obviously be troublesome for a young player, but Williams admitted that he’s only focused on what he can control.

“I just handle what I can handle, just control what I can control,” Williams said (via Adam Maya of NFL.com). “Just go out and work hard as I can for any team that I’m on. Hopefully it’s the Jets so I can play with Coach (Robert) Saleh, but any team I’m on, I just work my hardest so that when that comes around I can be the best player I can be.”

Jets Place Quinnen Williams On IR

December 23rd, 2020 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets will place Quinnen Williams on injured reserve with a neck injury, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The defensive lineman will miss the final two games of the year, leaving the Jets without their brightest young star.

Even in the midst of an ugly year, the Jets rebuffed numerous trade inquiries for Williams. His rookie season was nothing to write home about, but he’s become a true force in 2020. By early November, he logged three sacks and seven tackles for loss — more than he totaled in all of 2019. Today, his season ends with seven sacks, ten tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and 55 total stops.

The Jets’ shocking win over the Rams has them in line for the No. 2 overall pick, with the Jaguars occupying the “top” spot. The next two games against the Browns and Patriots won’t mean much for the 1-13 squad, but they could have major ramifications on the future of the franchise. Their odds of beating the Browns will go down drastically without Williams applying the pressure, though that’s probably alright by most Jets fans.

Williams will join fellow defender Jordan Jenkins on IR. The linebacker will be watching from a distance as he heals up from long-awaited shoulder surgery.

AFC Rumors: Williams, Chiefs, OBJ, Patriots

November 10th, 2020 at 5:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adam Gase insisted the Jets were not trading Quinnen Williams, but that did not stop teams from reaching out about a potential trade. The Jets received inquiries from multiple teams on their standout defensive tackle before last week’s trade deadline, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Although GM Joe Douglas was not with the team when the Jets selected Williams — during a draft in which Gase was not exactly in lock-step with previous GM Mike Maccagnan — the team views the ex-Alabama prospect’s talent and positional value to be too great to trade. After a less impactful rookie year, Williams has broken through as an NFL sophomore. He has three sacks and seven tackles for loss — already bettering his 2019 numbers.

Here is the latest from the AFC:

The Chiefs‘ Andy Reid-era front office has undergone changes, thanks to the executive talent the organization has amassed. Ryan Poles may well be poised to follow Chris Ballard and Brett Veach to a GM job, with Field Yates of ESPN.com noting (via Twitter) the current Chiefs exec is firmly on the GM radar. The Chiefs have twice promoted Poles over the past three years, moving him to college scouting director in 2017 and to assistant player personnel director a year later. Should Poles land a GM job, the Chiefs would be entitled to third-round draft compensation.
Odell Beckham Jr. underwent successful ACL surgery Tuesday, the Browns announced. The team expects OBJ to be ready for the 2021 season. It is not certain if the 28-year-old wideout will, in fact, be with the Browns for the ’21 campaign. His through-2023 contract contains no guaranteed money, and his star has certainly fallen since being dealt from New York to Cleveland. Beckham landed in trade rumors last year and this offseason, and rumblings have resurfaced about the Browns dealing the John Dorsey-era acquisition in 2021.
When Sony Michel returns from IR, it is unlikely the third-year Patriots back will recapture his previous role. Damien Harris stood out in training camp and has played well since debuting. The 2019 third-round pick should not be expected to lose his lead role in New England’s backfield, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Harris did suffer a chest injury Monday, but it remains to be seen if the former Alabama back will miss any time. Harris is averaging 5.6 yards per carry this season. While Michel is at 6.7, that is on just 26 totes. The former first-round pick’s career YPC average sits at 4.2.

Adam Gase: Jets Won’t Trade Quinnen Williams

October 28th, 2020 at 12:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Despite the speculation, the Jets won’t trade defensive lineman Quinnen Williams between now and Tuesday’s deadline. At least, that’s what head coach Adam Gase says.

“He’s going to be here,” said Gase (Twitter link via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano).

Gase went on to say that there’s “nothing” to the “false” rumors of the first-round pick being shopped. However, at multiple beat writers have heard that the Jets are willing to listen on Williams, and one recent report indicated that the Jets are actively looking to recoup draft compensation for him.

The Jets took Williams with the No. 3 overall pick just last year. With the talent to be a defensive cornerstone for years to come, a trade would be shocking. Still, at 0-7, the Jets are expected to be active in the coming days.

The Jets reportedly more than a second-round pick for the former Alabama standout, though Gase claims he’s practically untouchable. Given his ability and improvement as an NFL sophomore, that seems like an achievable asking price. Through seven games, Williams has five tackles for loss and ranks as one of the league’s very best run-stoppers on the interior, according to Pro Football Focus.

If Williams stays put this week, he’ll line up across from Patrick Mahomes on Sunday.

Trade Rumors: Giants, Ryan, Fuller

October 25th, 2020 at 11:07am CST by Rory Parks

After dealing Markus Golden to the Cardinals, it appears the 1-6 Giants have officially declared themselves sellers at this year’s trade deadline. Though GM Dave Gettleman may be reluctant to trade away veteran talent that could theoretically help Big Blue win a few games — and perhaps save Gettleman’s job in the process — players like Evan Engram, Kevin Zeitler, and Golden Tate could be available, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes (though Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says the club is unlikely to deal Engram).

2017 second-round DT Dalvin Tomlinson could also be on the move, per Dunleavy. Tomlinson is playing out the last year of his rookie contract, and while he has expressed interest in staying with the Giants long-term, there has been little progress in contract talks.

As we creep closer to the November 3 deadline, let’s round up a few more trade rumors from around the league:

Big names like Falcons QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones are not going to be moved, as Rapoport writes in the same piece linked above. The same can be said for Jets QB Sam Darnold (though Darnold could be dealt this offseason). Gang Green may be more open to trading DT Quinnen Williams, but thus far interested teams have only offered a single second-round pick. That will not be enough to convince GM Joe Douglas to trade the talented interior defender.
The 1-5 Vikings look like sellers after they traded Yannick Ngakoue, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says Minnesota is open to dealing S Harrison Smith, TE Kyle Rudolph, and LT Riley Reiff. However, those players are not generating much interest, and the players that rival execs really want — WR Adam Thielen and TE Irv Smith Jr. — seem likely to stay put.
Another 1-5 outfit, the Texans, also anticipate making a trade or two, per La Canfora. Houston is in desperate need of draft capital, and receivers Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller are coming up in discussions. Sources expect at least one of those players to be moved, and the team is also gauging the market for edge defender Whitney Mercilus.
One team that could have an eye on the Texans’ receivers is the Patriots, who are once again looking for a pass catcher, as La Canfora writes. One year after the team’s ill-fated trade for Mohamed Sanu, New England wants to get a weapon for QB Cam Newton, and Cooks, Fuller, and Thielen could all be options.
Washington QB Dwayne Haskins might be on the trade market, but the club hasn’t received much interest. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Haskins could be had for anything more than a sixth-round pick, but Washington hasn’t even gotten an offer that good yet. Although pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan has been the most-discussed Washington trade chip outside of Haskins, Rapoport says Ryan Anderson is more likely to be traded.

Jets’ Quinnen Williams Cleared Of Gun Charges

October 5th, 2020 at 11:57am CST by Zachary Links

Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has been cleared of two felony gun charges against him, attorney Alex Spiro announced (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). Instead, Williams entered a guilty plea and agreed to pay a $250 fine to resolve the March arrest.

“As we said from the outset, this matter has been resolved with no criminal charges,” Spiro said. “This case was nothing more than a technical issue with the storing of a firearm, which is why the government gave Mr. Williams nothing more than a ticket.”

Williams, 23 in December, was cuffed at LaGuardia Airport when police say he was carrying a Glock 19. Williams volunteered that the gun was in his possession, but he did not have a license to carry the firearm in New York — only in his home state of Alabama. The Class E and D felonies could have carried serious consequences, so this is a relief for Williams and his camp.

Of course, Williams is not necessarily out of the woods with Roger Goodell & Co. The NFL reserves the right to fine or suspend players for matters such as these, even if they are cleared by the courts.

The Jets selected the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout third overall in 2019, and Williams made nine starts as a rookie. This year, he’s been first-string for all four of the Jets’ games, including a two-sack showing against the 49ers.

East Rumors: Williams, Jets, Giants, Bills

March 7th, 2020 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets are in the mix for Trent Williams and are willing to negotiate a new deal with the Redskins’ disgruntled tackle, were they to pull the trigger on a trade, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Thus far in the latest round of Williams trade rumors, the Jets and Browns have expressed interest. And the Redskins may well be willing to reduce their asking price. Washington is serious about unloading Williams this time, per Vacchiano, who adds that several around the league believe the franchise will not ask for a first-round pick this time around. The Redskins asked for a first-rounder last year, and Williams predictably remained with the team after the deadline. Both the Browns and Jets hold a second-round pick and two thirds this year.

Shifting away from a Williams deal, here is the latest from the East divisions:

Quinnen Williams has an upcoming court date, stemming from his Thursday arrest at LaGuardia Airport, but some updates on this situation have emerged. The Jets defensive lineman was not carrying ammunition for his Glock 19 pistol with him, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Additionally, the weapon was stored in Williams’ checked baggage, not his carry-on, Darryl Slater of NJ.com reports. Williams was arrested because he did not possess a New York permit for the weapon, only an Alabama permit. Had ammunition been present with the gun, Williams would be facing a much stiffer penalty due to New York’s strict gun laws. The 22-year-old defender will be arraigned March 25 in Queens County criminal court.
The Giants have not traded down in Round 1 since 2006; Dave Gettleman has somehow never traded down in any round in seven drafts as a GM. The team famously did not discuss moving down from its No. 2 spot in 2018, when it chose Saquon Barkley, and then surprised the football world by taking Daniel Jones at No. 6 last year. Faced with a bevy of needs, however, the Giants will end up trading down this year, Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com predicts (via Twitter). Big Blue features needs at tackle, perhaps every linebacker spot and across the secondary.
Eight-year NFL veteran Ryan Wendell is entering his second season on the Bills‘ staff, and the former center received a promotion. He will move from offensive assistant to assistant offensive line coach, the Bills announced. This is the former Patriots starter’s first coaching gig. The Bills also promoted three other assistants this week. They moved Shea Tierney to assistant quarterbacks coach, bumped Marc Lubick up to the assistant wideouts coach role and made Jimmy Salgado their nickel coach. All previously resided at lower-level assistant or quality control level.

Quinnen Williams Arrested For Attempting To Board Plane With Gun

March 6th, 2020 at 8:27am CST by Sam Robinson

Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams was arrested Thursday night at LaGuardia Airport and is facing the charge of criminal possession of a weapon, according to police (via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). This incident occurred at around 9:15pm ET.

Carrying a gun with an Alabama permit, but not a New York permit, the 22-year-old defender was processed by the Port Authority Police Department. It is not clear if the gun, a Glock 19, was loaded, Cimini adds. Williams must appear in court March 25, per NJ.com’s Darryl Slater.

“We have been in contact with Quinnen Williams and are fully aware of the situation,” the Jets said in a statement. “We will have no additional comment as this is a pending legal matter.”

Williams will face a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy. The Jets selected the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout third overall in 2019, and Williams made nine starts as a rookie. He is expected to be one of the Jets’ centerpiece players next season.