Leonard Williams and the Giants reached an agreement today on a three-year contract. The move doesn’t come as a surprise, the Giants have been in extended negotiations with the 26-year old defensive standout.
Last week, for the second consecutive year, the team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Williams. This move prevented Williams from leaving for free agency this offseason. It also, however, limited the team’s spending options to pursue available talent.
Therefore, the move to tag Williams was looked as nothing more than a placeholder while both sides hammered out a new contract.
Well, for the Giants and Williams, consider it Mission: Accomplished.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Giants have agreed to a three-year deal $63 million with $45 million guaranteed, for Williams.
Through Wednesday, teams are allowed to contact and to enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become UFAs upon the expiration of their 2020 player contracts. No contracts can be signed until the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
For Williams, respect is the ultimate currency
“It’s never been about the money for me,” Williams said when he was looking back on his 2020 season. “I was kind of drafted high, made a lot of money already in my career. I feel like I was smart enough and I could retire now and still have enough money for the rest of my life, but it’s never been about the money. I think I more wanted respect and to show guys the reason why I’m in this league. It’s more about the respect to me than the contract.”
In 2020, Williams led the team and was seventh in the NFL with a career-high 11.5 sacks. It was the highest total by a Giants player since Jason Pierre-Paul‘s 14.5 in 2014. No other Giants defender had more than 4.0 sacks.
In the season’s final five weeks, Williams was twice named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He played in all 16 games, tallying 57 tackles.
Williams played that 2020 season also while under the franchise tag. The talent has always been there with Williams; it’s why Giants general manager Dave Gettleman traded a third- and fifth-round pick to the Jets during the 2019 season to get him.
I believe for most of us watching his career, it was matter of him consistently playing up to his potential.
Last season, Williams was, by far, the anchor for the defense. He’s earned his money and respect. And the scary part — he’s still just 26 years old.
Image: AP Photo / Adam Hunger
