There is trouble in the Big Apple, as First-Team All-Pro Quinnen Williams appears to be asking for a trade. The former third-overall pick is hoping for a new contract following his 12-sack season, and recent updates to his Twitter account tell us that he’d be ok with receiving his payday with a different organization.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 15, 2023
Now, it should go without saying that is probably just a negotiating stunt. Williams wants his money, and a Jets team that just went all-in with Aaron Rodgers probably isn’t willing to trade a great foundational piece like Quinnen Williams. However, if negotiations go south, there should be plenty of teams willing to hand out the contract he desires.
Top 5 Quinnen Williams Trade Destinations
Chicago Bears
After fielding one of the worst rosters in football over the past two seasons, the Chicago Bears finally found the money to upgrade the roster. However, the team could still use more help along the defensive line, and all the pieces are in place for a Quinnen Williams trade. The Bears have more cap space than any other team in the league, and they have plenty of draft picks thanks to the Bryce Young trade. If Williams leaves New York, Chicago is easily the most likely destination.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints lost a ton of talent of the defensive line in free agency, and first-round pick Bryan Bresee isn’t going to be able to fix this all by himself. New Orleans believes that they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and they could easily win double-digit games thanks to their remarkably easy schedule. General Manager Mickey Loomis has never been shy about trading picks for a player he believes in, so this is as good a time as any to execute a Quinnen Williams trade.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions won eight games last year despite having a defense that would have a hard time slowing down a high school offense. While the team has addressed the defense with multiple major signings and draft picks, their biggest weakness remains on the interior defensive line. A Quinnen Williams trade would immediately turn that weakness into a strength while making the Lions NFC North favorites.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks passed on the quarterback position in the 2023 NFL Draft, which means that they are all-in on Geno Smith. Seattle made the playoffs last year despite a lackluster roster, and the team did a marvelous job making the most of their resources in the NFL Draft. However, if they want to take the division crown away from the San Francisco 49ers, they’ll think about acquiring Quinnen Williams via trade. San Francisco has one of the most lethal running games in the league, and a player like Williams could help shut that down while also getting after an inexperienced Brock Purdy.
Los Angeles Chargers
If the Jets trade Quinnen Williams, it will probably be to a team in the NFC. However, if he does land with an AFC team, it will probably be the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers had arguably the worst interior defensive line in football last year, and they haven’t done all that much to improve it. Williams would immediately shore up that weakness and might be the piece this team needs to finally take down the Kansas City Chiefs in the division.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
