Defensive lineman Leonard Williams has the New York Giants exactly where he wants them.
Williams, 25, is an impending free agent. He could command at least $10 million a year on the open market.
In one of the more puzzling trade deadline deals, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman sent a 2020 third-round and 2021 fifth-round pick to the stadium mate New York Jets to have Williams’ services for the final half of a 4-12 season. If the Giants re-sign Williams, the 2021 fifth-round pick becomes a fourth-rounder.
Williams’ play on the field has been solid yet unspectacular. He can contribute but he is not a star.
According to NFL NextGen Stats, Williams was second on the team to Markus Golden in hurries with 14. His 20 quarterback pressures were behind Golden and Lorenzo Carter. However, Williams needed 12 games to record a tackle for a loss and didn’t get a piece of a sack until Week 17. In fact, Williams (the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of USC) has just 17.5 sacks in five seasons.
The Giants are in a quandary with Williams. The team could elect to use the franchise or transition tag on him. If the franchise tag is applied to Williams, the Giants would have him for 2020 at $16 million if he is considered a defensive tackle. That price tag is steep for a player of Williams’ production…or lack thereof.
The transition tag would be a little less, around $13 million. However, applying the transition tag would allow other teams to make offers to Williams. If the Giants choose not to match, he would leave with no compensation. It is doubtful another team would make an offer for Williams knowing the Giants would be inclined to match anything approaching market value or beyond.
At the same time, the Giants liked what they saw. Their defense allowed 3.70 yards per rushing attempt (fifth in the NFL) over the final eight games of the season with Williams in the lineup.
-
Ep 163: Week 13 Studs and Duds
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 8:30 pm
“We felt we needed him,” Gettleman said. “Again, we felt good about it and we feel, and he’s proven, he’s disruptive in there. He’s proven, he’s disruptive in there. He improved our rushing defense with him there, he buzzes around the quarterback, we’ve got to get him to finish now. But the bottom line is we felt it was worth the deal. The juice was worth the squeeze.”
It also appears Williams doesn’t want to go anywhere.
“I’m not the type of person that likes to bounce around a lot,” Williams said in an ESPN interview earlier in the season. “I’d like to be able to stay on this team and hopefully be a part of the rebuilding process to get this team back to a winning program again. I don’t think the money matters as much for me. Obviously, I want to get paid, as every player wants to. This is a business now. You clearly want to get paid for your play, but at the same time, I don’t think that is the most important thing for me.”
Only four free agents at Williams’ position project to earn at least $10 million according to Pro Football Focus and the website overthecap.com: the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Chris Jones, the Houston Texans‘ D.J. Reader, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Javon Hargrave, and Williams. Numbers are often guidelines in negotiations. Williams’ play wasn’t spectacular. The problem for the Giants is that there may be a team willing to overpay for Williams even if they don’t want to.
According to sources, the Giants have already held preliminary discussions with most of their key free agents. They don’t appear to be in any hurry as their coaching staff (including head coach Joe Judge and defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who will help determine Williams’ future) are still getting settled for the most part. Free agency will not begin until Mar. 18.
– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL and the New York Giants. Please like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.
-
Ep 181: HOF Semifinalist Tiki Barber Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:13 am
Hall of Fame semifinalist and former Giants running back, Tiki Barber, […]
-
Ep 180: Hall of Fame Class Of 2024 Semifinalists Discussionby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Ira and Clark dissect the 2024 Hall of Fame class semifinalists. Learn […]
-
Ep 179: Hall of Famer Drew Pearson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 178: Patriots, Eagles, 49ers, and More With Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on November 18, 2023 at 3:00 am
Former NFL executive Joe Banner returns to the show to talk with Clark and […]
-
NFL Week 14 Game Previewsby LandryFootball.com on December 9, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Several Week 14 games could be impacted by weather, which has been […]
-
Assessing the NFL Playoff Picture heading into week 14by LandryFootball.com on December 9, 2023 at 12:00 am
The Jaguars had a chance to seize control of the top spot in the AFC, […]
-
Ep 317: Week 14 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 4:04 am
-
Ep 316: Week 13 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 4:08 am
-
Ep 315: Week 12 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:46 am
-
Ep 314: Week 11 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:18 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
In this solo Senra show, your host Kyle Senra talks about the upcoming […]
-
Ep 199: Week 13 Instant Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 11:32 pm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
-
Full Press Islanders - 12-8 - Big win over Columbusby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm
A different ending as the Blue Jackets gave us all a scare but the Isles […]
-
Full Press Wild - 12-8 - Recapping the Wild shutout loss to the Canucks.by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Loss, Vancouver, shutout, win streak broken. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 12-8 - home loss, New Jersey, Evans debutby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Recapping the home loss to the Devils. Learn more about your ad choices. […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 12-8 - The Hurricanes Lose the Shutout, the 2-0 Lead in the Third Period, & Ultimately, the Game.by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Calgary dug themselves a two-goal deficit in the 1st period, but answered […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 12-8 - The Blackhawks finally get in the win columnby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Recapping the Chicago Blackhawks’ win against the Anaheim Ducks, Connor […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 832by Charlie Saunier on December 8, 2023 at 9:11 am
Ep 832 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 5-1 Vs Bolts Preview Leafs & Talk […]
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
Ian and John react to the Patriots win over the Steelers, Belichick's […]
-
12/5 - MNF Reaction, Endless QB Debatesby Full Press Coverage on December 5, 2023 at 11:28 am
Ian and John discuss the Bengals OT victory over the Jags and more […]
-
12/4 - Chiefs/Packers, Patriots, and Week 13 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Ian and John discuss the Packers win over the Chiefs, the Patriots […]
-
12/1 - NFL MVP, Week 13 Picksby Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 2:18 am
Ian and John discuss the ever-changing MVP race and give their predictions […]
-
11/28 - MNF Reaction, State Of The NFLby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 3:49 am
Ian and John react to Monday Night Football and discuss more of the state […]
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Ian and John recap Thanksgiving weekend, discuss Jalen Hurts' moment, and […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Pacers vs Lakersby Broken Controller Media on December 9, 2023 at 11:00 am
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 12-8 - The New Irish Prime Minister?by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:55 pm
-
Rockets at Nuggets - Mavericks at Trail Blazers - Clippers at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Cavaliers at Heat - Bulls at Spurs - Kings at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 3:15 pm
-
Knicks at Celtics - Warriors at Thunder - Timberwolves at Grizzliesby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 2:15 pm
-
Hawks at 76ers - Pistons at Magic - Raptors at Hornets - Wizards at Netsby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 1:40 pm
-
CM Punk and Randy Orton Return To WWE as Momentum Swingsby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss […]
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Review and Roman Reigns Inflated Title Streakby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he breaks down AEW Full Gear 2023. What […]
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Kevin Nash had quite a journey to the NWO. In part one of our two-part […]