The Alabama Crimson Tide have sent their fair share of well known players into the NFL over the years. Mark Ingram, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Julio Jones, DeVonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Will Anderson, Patrick Surtain II, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are some of the names that immediately come to mind. Nick Saban was also able to coach a young man named Quinnen Williams. In 2019, the New York Jets selected Quinnen with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. Yesterday, it was announced that the Jets decided to give their start defender a contract extension. A four-year deal worth $96 million and $66 million in guaranteed money which makes him the second-highest paid at his position behind Aaron Donald who is entering the second year of a three-year deal he signed last Summer.
In a short period of time, Quinnen has become one of the best Defensive Tackles in our league. At 6’3 and 305 pounds, his first step from the interior of the defensive line is remarkable. Quinnen primarily plays in a one technique which means he lines up in between the Center and Guard on the Offensive Line and he plays with the mindset that he can get to the football or get home to the Quarterback on every play. What has stood out to me is he uses a variety of ways to beat whoever is blocking him. One thing he does is a bullrush where he lunges himself at whoever is in front of him, then he uses momentum against him to pull him forward to the Line of Scrimmage, then swims over the top to get home. It impresses me each time I watch it happen. Quinnen beats you with brute force and works his way through double teams which is challenging for some guys. To be successful as a Defensive Lineman, you must have quick, choppy and violent hands and number 95 does. For a 300 pound man, he plays with speed to power, strong hand technique and balance, of course. At that size, it should be a crime for him to be so quick off the snap of the football. One play that stands out to me came last season when the Jets played the Bengals. Quinnen was blocked very well by two men, but he overpowered them and used that grown man strength by using his hands to get inside which gave him the advantage to push through and get home to Joe Burrow. Despite being locked up, he made a way to get home!
2022 was a breakout year for Quinnen. He established career highs in Quarterback hits with 28, tackles for loss with 12 and also recorded 12 sacks on the season. He did this as the centerpiece for a Jets defense that ranked amongst the best in the league a season ago. Quinnen made his first Pro Bowl and was named first-team All Pro. The Jets paid him and now, they can all just focus on this upcoming season.
