CASH WILL COME
Williams not focused on deal
He’s the last man standing, the sole survivor and the foundation of a rebirth for a once formidable defensive line. He’s a California kid with California cool. He’s exactly the type of player and person that the Jets need to invest in for any of this to ultimately work. Leonard Williams is The Beaver with Kramer’s hair. His locks are the most outrageous part about him. The rest? Bland and reliable.
He’s hardworking, committed to the cause, and refreshingly unconcerned about how many zeroes he’ll add to his bank account one day in the near future. Williams isn’t wasting valuable head space stressing over a new contract that he’s in line to get one year from now.
“The contract is going to come,” Williams said Tuesday. “There’s no pressure for it. I’m not like thirsty for it or anything like that. I just want to keep working hard and keep focusing on year by year… and making myself to be the best possible and helping my team be the best possible. And the money (will) come.”
Todd Bowles’ defensive line was a force once upon a time with the Sons of Anarchy, but Damon Harrison, Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson are all part of Gang Green’s past. Williams, once believed to be a luxury after the Jets took him with the No. 6 pick in 2015, is now the longest tenured defensive lineman entering his fourth season. He’s scheduled to earn $2.975 million in 2018. The Jets exercised their fifth-year option (for about $14 million) on Williams for 2019, but the team would like to sign him to a multi-year deal next offseason if he continues on the same path this year.
“I’m not really in it for the money,” Williams said. “I’m in it for the personal goals, personal accolades. The team as well. When you’re focusing on football and you’re focusing on what you have to get done, the money and the contracts come with it. If I’m focusing on what I can do to help my team in the best way possible and if I’m focusing on how I can get our team to the next level — get our team into the playoffs and championships — the money comes along.”
Williams has been a witness to the high turnover rate in the NFL. Harrison walked in 2016 after landing a monster contract with the Giants in free agency. Richardson was traded nine days before the start of the 2017 season. Wilkerson was cut two years into a monster deal that included $37 million in guarantees.
Williams, who will turn 24 this month, is still a work in progress with a ceiling that touches the sky. His 12 career sacks and 178 total tackles in 48 games don’t tell the real story of his impact in his first three seasons. Your eyes will tell you that he’s a disruptor. Williams had 25 of his 65 career quarterback hits last season despite a wrist injury that bothered him for the first half of 2017. Only Harrison and Rams’ Pro Bowler Aaron Donald had more than Williams’ 109 stops, according to Pro Football Focus.
He’s been working closely with assistant defensive line coach La’Roi Glover, a former perennial Pro Bowler, to make daily improvements to climb into the elite stratosphere at his position.
“It’s one of my goals to be one of the best defensive linemen,” Williams said. “When that comes, then I think the money comes with it…. I still have some work.”
Williams might not be campaigning to get paid yet, but he isn’t naïve. He’s aware of the market value for elite defensive linemen. The five highest paid players along the defensive line make $16$17 million per year. Donald will likely become the highest paid defensive lineman this offseason.
The Jets are projected by overthecap.com to have a league-high $87 million in salary cap space in 2019. Although the Jets have contractual control over Williams next season and could slap the franchise tag on him in subsequent years, the brain trust hopes to sign him to a long-term extension next offseason. In the meantime, he’ll continue to work. “I feel like time flew by,” Williams. “Subconsciously, I’m already going into the season differently because I’m more comfortable here. I’m more aware of where we’re heading. I’m more aware of my coaches and what they want, and my teammates and what they want.”
Williams doesn’t need to clamor for a new deal. The Jets know what they have in him. His money is coming. @MMehtaNYDN