The start of NFL free agency is just two weeks away.
The New York Jets face a myriad of crucial decisions over the next couple of months, highlighted by their four top-45 picks in April’s NFL draft. New York’s approach to the draft will be shaped by how they handle free agency.
On Friday, Michael Nania broke down the expected market values for all 20 of the Jets’ unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Ultimately, money is the deciding factor in nearly every free agent move around the league.
Among all 20 of the Jets’ UFAs this offseason, linebacker Quincy Williams stands out as one of the most intriguing names.
A former All-Pro with the Jets in 2023, Williams is coming off a rough season, and at 29 years old, his future with the team is uncertain.
Given the contract he is likely to command, per Spotrac, it would not make sense for the Jets to bring him back for the 2026 season.
Why the Jets should avoid bringing Quincy Williams back at his market value
According to Spotrac, Williams’ value on the open market is currently estimated at $9.2 million per year.
This is despite the Murray State product performing like one of the NFL’s worst linebackers in 2025.
Among qualified linebackers (minimum 700 snaps), Williams’ 35.2 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranked fifth-worst out of 51 players at the position.
Beyond that, opposing quarterbacks posted a 136.5 passer rating when targeting Williams, the worst mark among qualified linebackers, while his five touchdowns allowed were tied for the third-most. His 15.7% missed tackle rate also ranked sixth-worst at the position.
Not to mention, the Jets are already tied to a lucrative contract at the linebacker position, as they signed Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45 million deal last offseason. Sherwood carries an $11.5 million cap hit for the Jets in 2026.
Committing additional money to Williams, especially at his estimated value, would be nonsensical, given that he is undoubtedly coming off his worst season in the green and white and will be 30 in 2026.
Considering that Williams has succeeded in the league thanks to his elite athleticism and aggressiveness, he doesn’t profile as a player who can offer consistent production deep into his thirties. Perhaps his 2025 campaign marked the beginning of a substantial decline.
The Jets should prioritize building out the rest of their linebacker room with value-driven moves. Beyond Sherwood, they could add another starting-caliber linebacker whose projected market value better aligns with their production than Williams, such as Leo Chenal or Alex Anzalone.
This strategy should also include re-signing Mykal Walker, who thrived in a starting role down the stretch of the 2025 season and was a major contributor to the Jets’ elite special teams unit.
Yes, the Jets have an ample amount of cap space at just over $79 million, per Over the Cap, but with a surplus of holes sprinkled all over their roster, they can’t afford to spend recklessly.
Re-signing Williams at his projected price would be exactly that.