When the New York Giants curiously traded for defensive lineman Leonard Williams in-season, many criticized general manager Dave Gettleman for unnecessarily parting with draft capital on what could turn out to be nothing more than a temporary rental.
“The thought process was, I really believe that as much as the style of play evolves, there are basic truths — you have to run the ball, you have to stop the run, you have to rush the passer,” Gettleman told reporters in January. “If you are seriously deficient in any one of those three areas, it makes it tough. It’s going to be tough sledding. By bringing in Leonard, we looked at it, we obviously evaluated the film, by bringing him in, we felt he could be a disruptive force inside. And, he has been. He has been.”
Williams did excel against the run and even pass rushed much more effectively than many believe, but the Giants now find themselves in a situation where they’re going to be forced into dropping big money or losing their trade chips.
Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports that Williams views himself in the elite category and could be seeking upwards of $15 million annually from the Giants.
In fact, the big splash might even come before free agency begins. The Giants are intent on re-signing defensive lineman Leonard Williams, which is the only way to justify the third- and fifth-round picks they sent to the Jets for him (that fifth-rounder becomes a fourth-rounder if the Giants re-sign him before March 18). And that could be costly since Williams has said he wants a “big contract” because he thinks he’s a “top-tier interior defensive lineman.”
That would put the 25-year-old Williams, at least in his mind, in the $15 million per year range.
At $15 million, Williams would not only eat up a substantial chunk of the Giants’ available cap space, but he’d still find himself in a rotation alongside Dexter Williams, Dalvin Tomlinson and B.J. Hill, all of whom have played well and deserve defensive reps.
It has become increasingly difficult to defend Gettleman’s decision to acquire Williams, and now that he’s seeking upwards of $15 million annually, it’s nearly impossible.
from Giants Wire https://ift.tt/2vmy8PR
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