Jeffery Simmons' recent contract extension in Tennessee is good news for Cowboys star Quinnen Williams' future.
FRISCO - The Tennessee Titans recently locked down star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to a record-setting three-year, $105 million contract. It is the highest-paying defensive lineman contract over three years in NFL history.
And it surely caught the attention of your Dallas Cowboys.
Simmons' last deal with the Titans, a four-year $94 million figure, was jumped by Quinnen Williams in 2023, when the latter then-New York Jets star surpassed that total by $2 million by signing a few months later.
With Williams now entering his first full season with the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones and company could allow Williams to leapfrog Simmons again with an extension.
That's good news, eventually, for Williams' financial future ... but it'll depend on some things first.
One factor is his continued production. Williams was an immediate force for Dallas after his trade from the Jets at the deadline, which included the Cowboys forking over a first- and a second-round pick. The Pro Bowler picked up 21 tackles in seven games, along with 1.5 sacks. He positively impacted the Cowboys' run defense even more than the stat sheet suggests.
Williams remains one of the most ferocious players on the Cowboys roster, but he'll need to work at returning to that level with a new system being installed by first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
The Cowboys also remodeled their D-line since Week 18. Veteran Osa Odighizuwa was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and edge rushers Rashan Gary (via a Packers trade) and Malachi Lawrence (as a first-round rookie) were brought into the fold for a new-look pass rush group.
Williams, 28, will remain positioned next to Kenny Clark, who headlined the net gain from last August's Micah Parsons trade with the Packers. That continuity should bode well for the defense amid these changes, and allow the 6-3, 300-pound Williams to meet that level of production that earns him top dollar.
However ... that doesn't always mean the Cowboys will be swift in their business dealings.
You can argue that, in order to get Williams fully indoctrinated as a Cowboy, the team could aggressively pursue signing him to an extension now. But Williams' deal runs through 2027, so with two years to play with, Dallas could be content with waiting things out for now.
As we know, the team has often made a habit of taking its time with new contracts. Just ask George Pickens, who even after an All-Pro-level first year in silver and blue, was placed on the franchise tag buffer and told contract extension talks would not begin until next offseason.
Pickens was told to prove it, to do it again, in order to lock in his Cowboys future. Williams could be headed down a similar path.
But when it comes to his position, Simmons' new Titans deal - once again - has set up the Cowboys star with a lot to be excited about.
Now it's time to get to work proving that he's worth what might be another record-setting $100 million-plus deal.
