Editor’s note: The Giants have assumed the vast majority of Williams’ 2023 salary in this trade ($9,352,778) with the Seahawks taking on just $647,222.
The New York Giants fell to 2-6 with a Sunday loss to the New York Jets, and that essentially triggered their need to sell at the NFL trade deadline.
With precious little cap space remaining and no hope at the playoffs, the Giants have agreed to trade defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks.
In exchange for The Big Cat, the Giants will receive a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
The #Giants are getting back: A 2024 2nd rounder and a 2025 5th rounder. Massive deal. https://t.co/UnEFiWgDiE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2023
The two picks — and more specifically, the second-round pick — are an astronomical amount to receive for Williams and likely why general manager Joe Schoen couldn’t say no.
The trade comes almost four years to the day after the Giants acquired Williams from the New York Jets.
With the Seahawks, Williams will reunite with former Giants safety Julian Love and former Jets safety Jamal Adams.
Before the trade can become official on Tuesday at 4:01 p.m. ET, the Giants will have to re-work Williams’ deal. He’s currently in the final season of a three-year contract that pays him $18 million in base salary with a $32.26 million cap hit.
The trade could save the Giants as much as $18 million this season but account for a dead cap hit of $5.96 million next season, which was already a void year. However, it’s likely the Giants will eat more of that money (if not most of it) here in 2023 to help facilitate the deal.
Although Williams’ numbers are down statistically, he was still playing well within his role for the Giants, earning a 67.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus through eight weeks.
The Giants ultimately receive more for Williams in this trade than what they spent to acquire him under Dave Gettleman.
