The New York Giants traded veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks this week for a pair of draft picks.
Williams had played his entire eight-and-a-half-year NFL career in New Jersey, the first four with the Jets and the last four with the Giants. Translation: he’s seen a lot of losing and is now headed to a winner.
Williams will be missed for sure. Teammate Dexter Lawrence spoke about his friend’s departure.
“He’s a great football player and going to be hard to replace,” Lawrence said on Wednesday. “I was happy for him. He didn’t have to say much. I already know how he feels. I was just happy for him, told him to go out there and shine and we’ll hold it down.”
Lawrence has been doing a great job of holding things down. He’s on an All-Pro trajectory this season. Last week against the Jets, Lawrence was a one-man gang.
Dexter Lawrence is a cheat code 😳 pic.twitter.com/OC5IHvIMj2
— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) October 31, 2023
Lawrence is playing it week by week and simply going out and doing what the Giants hoped he could do when they selected him 17th overall out of Clemson back in 2019.
“Each week I want to dominate and that’s what I’m going to do each week. And that’s my goal, is to dominate. I enjoy pressure and I like pressure, whatever this brings, it brings, and I am just going to keep being me,” he said.
Williams had a huge effect on Lawrence both on and off the field. Asked what he learned the most from Williams, Lawrence kept it simple.
“Just how to be yourself. Don’t get overwhelmed in moments and just stay true and cool to yourself,” he said.
It’s working.
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