DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Sign All-Pro LB Quincy Williams to a 2 year deal

I live in Jets country. Just texted my friend and he's not too bummed. He's cheaper than Devin but not by so much really. He's a year younger.

AI Notes:

Quincy Williams enters the 2026 offseason following a difficult 2025 campaign, with his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade dropping significantly and his coverage performance ranking among the worst for qualified linebackers. Despite being ranked as a top-10 linebacker by some experts entering the 2025 season, his 2025 performance saw 83 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 5 touchdowns allowed in coverage.

2025 Performance and Rankings
PFF Overall Grade: 45.5 (76th out of 88 LBs).
PFF Coverage Grade: 35.2 (5th-worst out of 51 qualified LBs).
Performance: He logged 83 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 7 pass deflections in 13 games during the 2025 season.
Missed Tackle Rate: 15.7% (6th-worst at the position).

2025 Offseason Outlook
Pre-2025 Ranking: Voted the No. 10 off-ball linebacker by NFL executives and scouts heading into the 2025 season.
Free Agency (March 2026): Agreed to a 2-year, $17 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, transitioning away from the New York Jets.
Status: Considered a high-energy player who struggled with consistency in coverage during the 2025 season, leading to a "below average" grade for his new contract by some analysts.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings

10. Quincy Williams, New York Jets
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention

Williams backed up an All-Pro season in 2023 with another strong performance, earning several top-three votes. He held off several top competitors, including future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner, for the 10th spot.

"Zero to 100 closing speed sideline to sideline," an NFL defensive coach said. "Will strike you. Dog."

Williams lives in the backfield, combining for 41 tackles for loss since 2022. His pass deflections decreased from 10 to four year over year.

"He's a Pro Bowl-caliber player, elite speed and burst to close, plays physical and bigger than he is -- but to be elite you have to consistently take the ball away and he hasn't done that," a veteran NFL defensive coach said.

To that point, Williams has one career interception, which came in 2023. But he did force four fumbles in 2024.

He played under Rutenberg until 2024.

Pros: Rutenberg gets a familiar face for his defense. Had a breakout yer in 2023. An anomaly?

Cons: Williams was benched last year in November for "sustained underperformance since training camp."

Verdict: Eh, we'll see if a familiar coach and change of environment gets Williams back on track.

Looks to be a good replacement for Bush.

The most important thing to note here; Jets moved from a 4-3 base in 2024 to a 3-4 base in 2025. Williams didn’t fit the new system. He will be going back to the system that made him a pro bowler in Cleveland. One other important note is that Schwesinger is the main coverage LB here, Williams will be able to go back to what he does best.

At the end of the day, on paper, this was a very good pickup. It should actually be an improvement over Bush even, if he returns to his scheme defined play from 2023-2024.

If he plays closer to 2024 and previous years we make out like bandits. If he plays like 2025 - then we got a downgrade for a very small price difference.

Can but hope.... I do like speed and physicality. He and MG coming off the same side, MG stunting to the inside and Williams looping around, would be a dangerous combo.

Watch out for a record in 2026 for QB release time against the Browns...I don't know what that record is, but every coordinator should be scheming for that game right now.