Leonard

Williams

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth $21.5 million per year. Williams was the Seahawks’ big move at the trade deadline. Though the team fell just short of making the playoffs, it wasn’t because the move didn’t work out. Williams racked up four sacks and nine TFLs in 10 games with the Seahawks. Those are solid numbers for any player, let alone an interior pass-rusher. Having already invested a second and a fifth-round pick to acquire Williams, there was no way the Seahawks were letting him walk in free agency just a few months later. He will now return to Seattle with defensive guru Mike Macdonald as his head coach.

Williams was acquired by Seattle at the trade deadline, playing in five games for the Seahawks. He was listed with a new ankle injury on Wednesday, not practicing to start the week. LB Jordyn Brooks (ankle), who left Week 13 early, also did not participate. Both Williams and Brooks are major contributors to the Seahawks defense and nursing ankle issues that could keep them out for Week 14 against the 49ers.

Williams was acquired from the Giants on Tuesday, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says he expects Williams to be on the field for Seattle on Sunday. Williams has tallied 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks through seven games this season and is a strong run stuffer, which will be useful against Baltimore, even if he doesn’t play his full complement of snaps.

This marks the first significant trade with the trade deadline looming, and also sets the market for other defensive linemen who may be on the move over the next 24 hours. The 5-2 Seahawks lead the NFC West and now bolster a defensive line that’s helped limit opponents to 96.9 rush yards per game. Williams is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and has tallied 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks through seven games this season. According to Rapoport, the Giants will “take on a large portion” of Williams’ contract in exchange for better draft pick compensation.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Friday that Williams, who has struggled through a neck injury over the past month, would be good to go in a critical Week 17 game against Indianapolis. Williams was limited in practice this week. He had two tackles for a loss last week against the Commanders.

He left the game in the third quarter last week against the Commanders with the injury and did not practice at all this week. We think doubtful is fairly optimistic, but perhaps the Giants would consider playing him on almost no practice work this week. No Williams is a good sign for Philadelphia’s run offense on Sunday.

Williams was seen on the sideline with his helmet after exiting and was listed as questionable. It sounds like he was on the fringe of making a return, so it will be interesting to see what his status is heading into practice ahead of the team’s Week 14 matchup against the Eagles. The veteran lineman had three tackles on the day before exiting the contest.

The severity of the Williams’ injury is not known, but he will not return in what is a defensive battle between the Panthers and Giants.

The Giants converted $17.9 million of Leonard Williams’ base salary into a signing bonus. This gets Williams his money faster and allows the Giants to push the money into future seasons, clearing current-year cap space. The Giants will now have some additional breathing room as they enter 2022.

Rapoport added that Williams is having tests done to determine the extent of the injury. Given how close we are to the end of the season, it’s possible that Williams is done for the year. Williams has 5.5 sacks and four TFLs this year. While his numbers are down compared to 2020, he has still been one of the bright spots on a Giants defense that has failed to live up to expectations. His loss will make New York an easier opponent to beat in the trenches on both passing and running plays.