Getty Leonard Williams of the NY Giants.
When the New York Giants decided to send multiple draft picks, including a third-rounder in this week’s Draft, to acquire Leonard Williams from the Jets last season, chances are the team believed he’d be around for the long-term.
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Leonard Williams to Sign Franchise Tender
While a long-term deal has yet to materialize between the two, that doesn’t mean Williams isn’t getting paid. SNY’s Pat Leonard has reported that Williams is set to sign his franchise tag tender which will fully guarantee his $16.1 million contract for 2020.
Breaking: Leonard Williams is going to sign his franchise tag tender with the #Giants, per source.
Will Giants Ink Williams Long-Term?
It’s apparent Williams will be sticking around New York for at least one more season. However, whether or not he’ll be with the team past this year is anyone’s guess.
Williams signing his franchise tag tender will allow both he and the Giants to continue to work on hammering out a new long-term deal if both sides see fit. If the two don’t come to terms, Williams will become a free agent following the upcoming NFL season.
Yet, it’s fair to question whether New York is ready to commit to Williams. While he may not fill up the stat sheet, the former top-six overall draft pick is an extremely solid player. However, on a team desperate for pass-rushers, Williams leaves much to be desired.
He recorded a meager 0.5 sack with the Giants a season ago, and has only one season with more than five sacks over his five-year career.
Big Blue’s defense certainly has its holes and question marks, however, the defensive line is not one of them. In fact, their d-line is one of the better position groups in all of football.
2019 first rounder Dexter Lawrence ranked as Pro Football Focus’ fourth-highest rated rookie defender a season ago. Dalvin Tomlinson is a consistent contributor with a Pro Bowl under his belt, while BJ Hill is wildly underrated nationally. So while Williams adds talent to the group, he’s not outright needed.
New York may ultimately be best served to let this year play out rather than allow Williams to handicap their salary cap long-term. With Kyler Fackrell currently pegged as the team’s most lethal pass-rusher, they would love to see Williams improve as a pass-rusher. If he does, he may just land the type of deal he’s hoping for.
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