Unless the NFL moves the franchise tag deadline back, the Giants have less than 24 hours to use their tag on Leonard Williams. Multiple issues could stand in the way of that taking place. While the Giants would be taking a risk if they do not tag the standout interior defender, they have less than $10MM in cap space. The Giants want to keep Williams around long-term, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes, but they will have a tough time tagging him at $19.4MM. A counterargument would be that the Giants should tag Williams as a precaution, rather than risk losing him next week, and worry about cap issues between Tuesday and the March 17 start of the new league year. The sides were not believed to be close to a long-term deal last year. If the Giants pass on a tag, they will be entering a crucial stretch ahead of the March 15 legal tampering period. They also have defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson as a UFA-to-be.
However, the other part of this equation could cause the Giants to pay even more for a Williams tag. His grievance to be tagged as a defensive end is unresolved, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Should Williams win that grievance, his 2020 salary will balloon from $16.1MM (last year’s defensive tackle tag rate) to $17.8MM. That would bump his 2021 tag price to $21.4MM. Williams played more snaps as an inside defender in 2019, which would point to “defensive tackle” being the correct label for tag purposes. With the Giants up against the cap, this is not an insignificant difference.
Here is the latest from the Big Apple and western New York:
- The Giants did do a little work on their cap situation Monday. They restructured tight end Levine Toilolo‘s contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The blocking tight end was set to earn $2.95MM next season. He will be back at a lower rate, with Schwartz estimating the Giants will save more than $1MM by making this move.
- Recently dismissed from his post as Lions VP of player personnel, Kyle O’Brien will join the Giants’ front office. The Giants are adding O’Brien as a senior personnel executive, the team announced. O’Brien spent the past few years in Detroit under Bob Quinn, but the bulk of his experience came in New England.
- As expected, Marcus Maye received the franchise tag. The Jets cuffed their top free agent Monday night. They now have until July 15 to work out an extension. Last week, Maye’s agent questioned Jets management’s commitment to his client. Citing last year’s Jamal Adams saga, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini wonders if GM Joe Douglas is not high on paying big money for safeties. The Jets also selected Ashtyn Davis in the 2020 third round. Maye, however, is by far Gang Green’s most proven defensive back and can push for a high-end safety contract.
- Although the Bills have Dawson Knox under contract through 2022, they may be looking to upgrade at tight end. Buffalo is likely to add a veteran soon, via free agency or trade, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The Chargers could well tag Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith looms as a Titans tag candidate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Other available tight ends include Kyle Rudolph, Gerald Everett and likely Zach Ertz. The Eagles tight end has drawn trade inquiries and will almost certainly not be back in Philly next season.
I know Williams was great last yr just scares me to give him 100 million. Plus can we afford him and Tomlinson? Need to cut Schwartz and Andrews.
Agreed. I would prefer Tomlinson. Plus Williams was better in games against weaker opponents and no showed in the tougher games. I don’t think he’s worth the money he is asking for.
The fact that they traded that third for him gives him leverage, but I agree with y’all that Williams is just too inconsistent to demand that type of deal.
Thing is, I think that other teams know that too. I do not believe that any team in the league would open up the reserves for Williams to the tune of a market setting contract, when all he really did this year is restore his status as a good rusher, instead of actually taking a step forward amongst his competition. The Giants hopefully won’t bet against themselves and sign him to too big a deal, despite the fact that they obviously wanted to see Williams become a successful part of their defense.
I could see the Bills making a run for Ertz but probably after the Eagles release him.
Would the Bills prefer Ertz or Njoku to play receiver? They are clearly less concerned with blocking ability and more so with vertical capability of they are looking at those options, so Njoku may be a cheaper (and younger) option.
That said, I do not see the downside of running with Knox. He flashed in a few moments so far, and is young enough to develop as a future option.
So, let me get this straight:
The player and the Jets tried to negotiate with him
in JANUARY and FEBRUARY.
In MARCH the Jets applied the franchise tag to MAYE
and although the draft takes place in APRIL,
the Jets can try to work out a MAYE extension in JUNE but have until JULY fifteenth to finalize any extension.
The Giants gave up a ton of valuable draft picks to get Williams and Baker. If they don’t keep Williams (and they knew he would shortly command big bucks when they traded for him) they will have received a combined total of two and 1/2 seasons of production in return. This alone is grounds to fire Dave Gettleman.
Gods, I would love to see a Diggs/Rudolph reunion in Buffalo, even if it could be a tense one after Rudy took this dig at Diggs in January:
“You go back to the beginning of (the 2019) season and I’m like, ‘I can either get really good at the only thing I’m asked to do or I can complain about it and I can cause a scene (and) throw a fit. What’s going to be more productive for our team and for this organization?’”
Be the bigger man, Stefon, and start lobbying for Rudolph to be the tight end help your QB needs!