The New York Giants place the franchise tag on Defensive Tackle Leonard Williams. This is expected to be a placeholder until the Giants can sign Williams to a long-term deal.
Williams is a former first-round pick for the New York Jets. During his four-year tenure with Gang Green, he made one Pro Bowl in 2016. However, he never had a double-digit sack season. In 2019, Giants’ GM Dave Gettleman traded for Williams in exchange for a 3rd round pick and a conditional 2021 pick. The football world laughed at Gettleman for trading draft capital for a guy that looked as if he was a first-round bust. In 2020 Williams would prove all the doubters wrong.
During his second season with the Giants, Williams had his first double-digit sack season with 11.5. He was also a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week and showed that he is the leader of a young Giants defensive line.
Signing Leonard Williams long-term is the Giants’ number one priority this offseason. Williams was tagged last year and he is not going to tolerate being tagged for a second time. This move is temporary until the Giants can sign him long term. Expect those talks to escalate in the coming days.
