The next major trade domino has fallen. The Giants are sending defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seahawks, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
In exchange, Seattle is sending a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder to New York. The deal marks an end to Williams’ time in the Big Apple and puts to rest long-running questions about his future with the organization. It will also give Seattle a signficant boost along the defensive front. 
As part of the agreement, the Giants restructured Williams’ deal. They will pay out $9.35MM of Williams’ remaining salary as a signing bonus, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. That will allow for proration into void years. As a result of that move – which will help the Seahawks absorb his remaining 2023 salary and his cap hit, and no doubt played a role in helping the price include a Day 2 pick – the trade will not be official until after 3pm today. Indeed, Albert Breer of SI reports the Giants will retain all but the veteran’s minimum before sending Williams westward. Another factor which drove up Williams’ price was the interest he generated amongst contending teams.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes the Giants had “several suitors” in on the 29-year-old. Seattle has outbid the other teams which showed interest, though, and they will now take on Williams for at least the remainder of the season (which calls for a 2023 salary of $18MM). The Seahawks will take on roughly $650K of that figure as Williams looks to contribute to a playoff contender ahead of free agency in March.
A three-year, $63MM extension signed in 2021 left Williams with the league’s highest cap hit amongst defenders this season. For that reason, many speculated that an extension or restructure would be worked out. The former Jets first-rounder made it clear he was open to another Giants contract, but general manager Joe Schoen insisted throughout the offseason no such move would be coming. After standing pat during the summer, New York has now swung a deal ensuring greater draft compensation than the team would have been due in the event Williams walked in free agency. As Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport notes, the Giants knew the possibility of Williams departing in the spring was high.
The Seahawks entered Monday with less cap space than the roughly $10MM remaining on Williams’ deal. As a result, the Giants’ decision to retain essentially all of his outstanding compensation was necessary. While that will hinder their 2023 cap situation, it will provide some clarity moving forward with a number of other extensions on the team’s priority list. Seattle, meanwhile, will see another high-profile veteran join a new-look defensive front.
Uchenna Nwosu‘s season-ending injury helped bring about a Seahawks reunion with Frank Clark. The latter will help in the edge rush department, while Williams will aim to provide a starting-caliber presence along the interior. His 2023 performance (21 tackles, 1.5 sacks) has fallen short of his previous years in New York, but the USC alum will have the chance to boost his free agent stock on a Seattle front which underwent signficant changes this offseason.
Most significantly, that included signing Dre’Mont Jones to a lucrative pact in free agency. The former Bronco has registered a pair of sacks so far while logging a starter’s role on a defense which ranks eighth against the run. Seattle will look to upgrade in the interior pass-rush department with Williams now in the fold, though the team already sits in the top five in sacks (26).
While this will likely be the only major move made by the Seahawks ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s deadline, the Giants have been named as a team to watch in the seller’s category. They have made clear their intention of retaining Saquon Barkley, but other players could be on the move. It will be interesting to see how New York approaches its remaining deadline plans, and how much of an effect this deal has on the market for other notable defenders.
damn giants, what happenduh, how do u have the same record as da bears
I’m willing to pretend it’s 1963 if you are…lol
Because the have significantly less talent than Chicago
Daboll had the same situation in Buffalo. The first-year playoff run was a fluke with a transitional roster, then a drop the second as they built a stronger team. The Bills have been highly competitive the last four years and the Giants’ front office seems to be taking the same approach. Patience…
Solid haul for a player your not resigning and ironic that the Giants gave up leas to acquire him….do Adoree Jackson next
Please do Jackson next…..he’s pathetic in pass defense….
Actually I hope the Giants compete for his free agency services.
He’s not worth a 2nd round pick next year, and a 2025 fifth.. Seattle is going to regret that move. There are other better players they could have had than Williams for that price. Like Montez Sweat.
It cost them a 2nd because Giants are basically paying the rest of the $10million left on the contract.
Great move by the giants. Got a 2nd in 2024 for a guy we are not resigning. Love it!
The Giants essentially bought a second round by paying most of his contract.
Wow, nice haul for Williams. Was not expecting that much in return.
We do this a lot. Fall short and let them walk. But it’s a salary cap beat. I like the move. Just don’t love it.
It’ll look better after the cap space clears. Williams can be a good player, but the Giants were going to have to tie up a lot of cap to keep him. A second rounder gives the Giants a good chance to get that level of production back, or nab another piece at a different position.
Giants fans saying wow great return a second round pick for a guy we weren’t going to resign.
Completely overlooking the fact they paid him 10mil upfront to get rid of him.
Definitely saved some money in the long run and bank a nice pick but that’s still a good amount of money just wasted….
I think this is better for Seattle.
Good against the run, good amount of sacks already and that’s only going to get better with Williams and Clark. That unit looks insane really…
The offence probably isn’t quite as ready but they are young and promising and should only get better with time and reps.
It’s a GREAT return. They would’ve paid him if not traded and odds of returning next season were dwindling by the week.
I suppose either pay him to stay, don’t pay him and get nothing or pay short term and get back a pick. Gusss it worked out for them too
They had to pay him anyway genius so who cares. They are 2-6 with him and he hasn’t been impactful in any game until he played his old team. Wasn’t gonna resign him to a 20+million deal at this point so to get a mid to late 2 is a great return with a 2025 5th