According to Adam Schefter, the Giants are planning to tag DL Leonard Williams.
Pat Leonard reports that Williams will receive the franchise tag, as opposed to the transition tag.
This will cost the Giants between $16.126-$17.788 depending on whether he’s considered a defensive end or a defensive tackle.
Though some had thought New York would use the transition tag, which gives the team the right of first refusal but no draft picks in exchange for an offer sheet, New York apparently thinks Williams could have enough of a market to warrant spending a little more on the franchise tag.
The two sides have been working on a long-term deal but are reportedly not close to an agreement. New York traded third and fifth-round picks to the Jets for Williams at the trade deadline last year, so it would sting to lose him after just half a season.
However, Williams made it clear last year that he wants top of the market money for his position and will aim to hit free agency if the Giants don’t want to go that high.
“If I don’t think they’re giving me what I think I’m worth, then obviously I think hitting free agency would make sense,” Williams said. “Everything is going to have to match up.
“I definitely think I’m a top-tier interior defensive lineman, in that top percentage of the d-linemen. I wouldn’t say Aaron Donald [level]. But I would definitely put myself up there with a lot of those other top guys.”
Williams, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Jets back in 2015. He was in the final year of a four-year, $18.6 million rookie contract and was set to earn a base salary of $2,975,574 in 2018 when the Jets picked up his fifth-year option last April.
Williams made a base salary of $14.2 million for the 2019 season and was now in line to be an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
In 2019, Williams appeared in 15 games for the Giants and Jets and recorded 46 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three pass defenses. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 36 interior defender out of 114 qualifying players.
We had him featured in our Top 50 – 2020 NFL Free Agents list.
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