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The Giants have traded their star defensive tackle, Leonard Williams, to the Seahawks in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick, according to Ian Rapoport.
This trade shakes things up just in time for the impending NFL trade deadline and gives us a glimpse of the market for other defensive linemen who might be changing teams in the next 24 hours.
Trade! The #Giants are sending veteran DL Leonard Williams to the #Seahawks for a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick, per sources. pic.twitter.com/NuKJF2sIU8
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 30, 2023
Currently, the 5-2 Seahawks are leading the NFC West and are now beefing up their defensive line. They’ve been giving opponents 96.9 rush yards per game, which Williams strengthen.
Williams is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and has been doing decently, racking up 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the first seven games this season.
Fun fact, it’s not the first time Williams has been traded. He was the 6th overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Jets and then got traded to the Giants in 2019 in exchange for a 3rd round and a 5th round pick.
Later on, he was franchise tagged and eventually signed a 3-year, $63 million deal with $45 million guaranteed with the Giants in 2021. And now he’s being shipped off mid-season for a couple of draft picks.
Throughout his career, Williams has managed 39.5 sacks in 132 games, with his best year being in 2020 when he notched up 11.5 sacks. He’s also got 162 quarterback hits and 59 tackle for a loss.
The Seahawks now have both Williams and Safety Jamal Adams on the team, both were former 6th overall picks by the Jets.