The New York Jets are planning to exercise the fifth-year option for defensive lineman Leonard Williams for 2019, the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta reports.
Gang Green intends to pick up the defensive lineman's fifth-year option before the May 3 deadline, according to a source. The brain trust has high expectations for the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 draft entering this critical next phase of their rebuilding process.
Williams, 24, will make $2.975 million in 2018. His fifth-year option salary will be the average of the top 10 players at his position, which is projected to be north of $14 million. However, the team could still give Williams a new long-term deal before he ever plays on the fifth-year option, which kicks in next year.
Williams is coming off a bit of a down year in 2017. He recorded just two sacks and 47 total tackles last season, which comes on the heels a seven-sack, 68-tackle 2016 campaign that saw him picked for the Pro Bowl. Although, it should be noted that he was playing the first half of last season with a wrist injury he picked up in preseason, which likely contributed to his dip in production.
But despite that slightly disappointing year, it should come as no surprise that the Jets intend to pick up his option. Williams is still very young and has shown flashes of stardom over his first three years. With the likes of Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson now gone, he will likely be an integral and foundational part of the team’s long-term future on defense.
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