EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants and defensive back Leonard Williams are working on a long-term deal as the franchise deadline approaches, sources told ESPN. The deadline is Tuesday at 16:00 (ET).
Both sides would like to do something, but the franchise label is the likely option as a substitute if they don’t get there on time. The label (for the second year in a row) is a mechanism to ensure Williams remains a giant after a best season of his career, where he finished with 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterback shots, good for third in the NFL . The quarterback’s 41 pressures were seventh among home defenders, according to NextGen Stats.
Williams, 26, played on the franchise’s label last season for $ 16.126 million. A second label would come at a cost of 120% of last year’s number, or $ 19.351 million.
The sixth year of the line has an unresolved dissatisfaction with the NFLPA, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN recently reported. There is a discrepancy as to whether it should have been listed as a defensive target or an attack. If he is first, his 2020 salary would have been $ 17.8 million. That would make his second label worth $ 21.4 million later.
Regardless, especially with the Giants tight against the lid, a long-term deal is the goal with Williams. He is their top priority this season.
Williams was last season’s best passenger by a wide margin, producing more defensive shots than the rest of the combined team’s defensive line teams.
She was quite upset for the former first-round pick of the New York Jets in her first full season with the Giants. He thrived under coach Joe Judge and coordinator Patrick Graham’s defensive system.
Williams was given half a sack last season, which he split between the Giants and the Jets. It was the most recent of a spectacular first five years in the NFL after being the sixth USC general team in the 2015 NFL draft.
The Giants traded a pair of mid-season draft picks for Williams in the middle of the 2019 season, just a few months before he became a free agent. They put his franchise label off last season.
Williams has proven to be worth the 2020 salary – and much more – as one of the most productive defensive linemen in football. He produced the first double-digit sack season of his career, his previous peak being seven in 2016.
For his career, Williams totaled 299 attacks and 29 sacks.