Leonard Williams

New York Giants: Is Dalvin Tomlinson The Most Underrated Player On The Giants?

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New York Giants, Dalvin Tomlinson

The New York Giants‘ defensive line is slowly turning into one of the best units in the NFL. The combination of Leonard Williams, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Dexter Lawrence will leave opposing offensive lines struggling to gain ground in 2020.

On that defensive line, there is a player who is rarely talked about. Dalvin Tomlinson, the heart and soul of the Giants’ defensive front, has been one of the best and most consistent defensive linemen in the NFL over the past few years. Heading into 2020, Tomlinson is still an underrated and underappreciated talent.

Why Dalvin Tomlinson Deserves More Respect

Since entering the league as a second-round draft pick in 2017, Dalvin Tomlinson has been a rock on the Giants’ defense. Dalvin has not missed a game in his career, starting in 16 games every season for the past three seasons. Tomlinson was already a solid player in his rookie 2017 season but he has only gotten better each year.

Tomlinson finished with 50 or more tackles in each of his first two seasons. In 2017, Dalvin totaled 50 tackles, and in 2018 he totaled 59. He improved his tackles for loss total to 5 in 2018 after posting only 1 in 2017. Dalvin Tomlinson is not a flashy player, but he gets the job done.

In 2019, Dalvin Tomlinson recorded 49 combined tackles with 7 tackles for loss. What made Tomlinson’s 2019 season so exciting though was his improvements as a pass-rusher. After failing to record a single sack in 2018, Tomlinson totaled a career-high 3.5 sacks in 2019. Dalvin Also totaled 13 pressures in 2019, 5 more than he did in 2018.

Dalvin Tomlinson is far from a household name. He has never been to a Pro Bowl and he is rarely discussed as one of the best defenders on the Giants. But silently, Dalvin has been the Giants’ best defensive player over the past three years. Entering a new Alabama-like system in 2020, Tomlinson is bound to break out and get the respect he deserves (and maybe even a new contract).

New York Giants: Nate Solder and Leonard Williams combine for a massive percentage of salary cap

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New York Giants, Leonard Williams

The New York Giants are strapped of cash this year due to several contracts that are taking up a high percentage of cap space.

With DeAndre Baker dealing with legal issues, which seemingly took a turn for the worst last week, having extra money available would have been beneficial. If Baker is guilty of the charges being pressed against him, the Giants will be down one starting cornerback.

Supplementing his loss will be essential, even if the Giants elect to go with their younger options in hopes of development. However, the two players that take up the most cap space are also the most controversial on the team.

Leonard Williams and Nate Solder are the two players aforementioned, accounting for 18% of the Giants’ cap.

Solder, who signed a four year, $62 million deal with the Giants in 2018, had a potential out this off-season. If the Giants cut him, he would’ve counted $16 million in dead cap, which would result in just a $3.5 million in savings. However, if the Giants wait until 2021, his cap hit will go down to $6.5 million, where they will save $14 million.

Waiting one more season is highly advisable, as Solder still has some value if moved over to the right tackle spot. In addition, personal issues in his life have limited his development with the Giants and adaptation to their style.

Why Nate Solder has struggled with the New York Giants:

Essentially, he has failed to change his technique from New England. Tom Brady took far shorter drop-backs than Eli Manning and Daniel Jones. He has been pushing his assignment right into the Giants’ quarterbacks. He would open up his outside shoulder, giving opposing pass rushers the speed rush around the edge, and Brady would simply step up into the pocket to avoid it. Manning and Jones are different types of quarterbacks, as they take 7-8 yard drop-backs instead of 4-yard.

As for Leonard Williams, we all know the debate surrounding his retention. General manager Dave Gettleman gave up a third and fifth-round pick to acquire Williams from the New York Jets in 2019. Most arguments are based on his low sack totals, but there’s no doubt Williams has an impact on the interior defensive line. His ability to draw double teams and put pressure on the pocket is evident, but for $16.1 million per season, his services are overvalued. The Giants need to lower that 18% hit in 2021, and I imagine they will do just that by cutting Solder and reworking Williams’s contract if he performs in 2020.

New York Giants: The Leonard Williams debate comes down to one factor

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New York Giants, Leonard Williams

The conundrum that New York Giants’ pass rusher Leonard Williams has created among the fans is toxic. When general manager Dave Gettleman traded a third and fifth-round pick for Williams from the New York Jets, most were perplexed at the decision.

Ultimately, Williams brought experience and pass rush efficiency to Big Blue. Before he entered the fold, the Giants were relying on rookie Dexter Lawrence, second-year interior defender BJ Hill, and veteran Dalvin Tomlinson.

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The New York Giants are a better team with Leonard Williams on the field

Leonard immediately made an impact, helping his teammates produce more and draw double teams frequently. Over eight games with the Giants, he posted 0.5 sacks, 26 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits. His 3.7% missed tackle rate was solid and he showed the ability to collapse the pocket and force early throws.

The value Williams brings is clear, but his inability to reach the quarterback and take him to the ground has been the focal point regarding the justification of Gettleman’s trade. However, the Giants hit Williams with the franchise tag this off-season, which will pay him $16.1 million in 2020.

The entire debate holds minimal value until we see what type of player Williams is next season. If he can produce elevated numbers and get after the quarterback well, the trade will have been justified. If he fails to leave his mark, Gettleman could lose his job because of it.

The one-year deal the Giants offered Leonard is a good move. It allows them to move on if he doesn’t perform in 2020. Having no long-term implications is a great thing, aside from the fact they will have lost a third and fifth-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft.

Those picks could have resulted in a starting center or new pass rusher to add to the rotation. That was the opportunity cost of bringing in Williams, who currently serves as one of the better players on defense.

The bottom line, the 2020 season will give us all the answers we need to judge Gettleman’s acquisition of Williams. However, it is too early to make any final decisions on the matter.

New York Giants: Is Leonard Williams Worth His Reported Asking Price?

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New York Giants, Leonard Williams

The New York Giants placed their franchise tag on newly acquired defensive lineman Leonard Williams this offseason. That franchise tag will pay Williams $16.1 million for the 2020 NFL season. Williams was acquired in a midseason trade that cost the Giants a 2020 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick. General Manager Dave Gettleman prioritizes the defensive line and felt this to be a worthy trade, despite the negative reaction amongst fans.

One of the main criticisms of the Leonard Williams trade was Leonard’s impending contract status. Williams was set to be a free agent in the 2020 offseason. With his contract expiring, many fans did not understand why Gettleman felt the need to trade for him midseason when the Giants could have just bid on Williams in free agency instead.

Leonard Williams Contract Update

Critics of this trade are getting more justification with the latest news. According to a report by Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Leonard Williams is asking for crazy money from the New York Giants. The report states that Williams is “seeking a deal worth $18-$20M per season.” The deadline for the Giants and Williams to agree to a long-term deal is July 15th and the two sides reportedly are “not close” to reaching an agreement.

Is Leonard Williams Worth His Asking Price?

If the Giants do pay Leonard Williams that salary, it will be a highly controversial decision. An $18-20 million dollar salary will make Williams one of the highest-paid interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Currently, Aaron Donald is the highest-paid IDL with an average salary of $22.5 million. A salary of $18-20 million would make Leonard Williams the third-highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the league. At that price point, Williams would be paid more than the likes of J.J. Watt, Fletcher Cox, Grady Jarrett, Geno Atkins, and many other highly-talented defensive linemen on their second contracts.

Leonard Williams is not the only interior defensive lineman looking to secure a big bag right now. Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones is also seeking a contract worth $20 million annually. Jones’s contract dispute with Kansas City could lead to a trade. The difference between Chris Jones and Leonard Williams, though, is that Chris Jones is a much better player.

Chris Jones is a legitimate pass-rushing threat from the interior. In 2018, Jones totaled 15.5 sacks and 49 pressures. He followed that up with a 9 sack, 27 pressure performance in 2019. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones ranks third among interior defenders in pass-rushing grade over the past four seasons. He also has recorded 212 pressures in that time span, fourth-most (PFF). Production like that is worth a premium price. Compare that to Leonard Williams’s 17.5 career sacks, and it is hard to justify paying these two players the same salary.

Leonard Williams is a talented defensive lineman and does have value as one of the ten best players at his position. However, he is not a top-three player at his position and it would not make much sense for the Giants to pay him like he is.

Leonard Williams Stats and Highlights

The Giants do have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. Leonard Williams is arguably the best player on the team’s defense. He has been a great run-defender throughout his entire career but he has not been a consistently good pass-rusher. However, PFF has discussed why Williams might be underrated as a pass-rusher:

“Among 87 interior defenders with 200 or more pass-rushing snaps, Williams ranked 13th in pressure rate at 11.3% but his one sack in 424 pass-rushing snaps put him near the bottom of the list in sack rate. On the other hand, Williams led the position with 19 quarterback hits. A few fractions of a second faster on several of those plays and that sack total looks a whole lot more respectable.” Pro Football Focus on Leonard Williams’s pass-rushing ability.

Williams does get consistent quarterback pressure. He recorded 17 pressures in 8 games with the New York Giants in 2019. But is this reason enough to justify a $20 million dollar contract? The Giants have other players that they will soon need to consider paying large contracts to, such as Saquon Barkley, Jabrill Peppers, Daniel Jones, and Evan Engram. It might be wise for the Giants to save their money for those players, rather than pay Leonard Williams like he is one of the best players in the NFL when he simply is not.

New York Giants: Leonard Williams is asking for crazy money

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New York Giants, Leonard Williams

The New York Giants are once again staring down the barrel of ignorance, as interior defensive lineman Leonard Williams is asking for what some might say is crazy money.

General manager Dave Gettleman traded for Williams from the New York Jets, sending them a third-round pick for the former first-round picks services. Over eight games with the Giants, Williams posted 0.5 sacks, 26 combined tackles, 11 quarterback hits, and a 3.7% missed tackle rate.

He undoubtedly deserves somewhere in the $12-14 million range on a long-term deal, but the money he’s asking for makes me think he’s reading someone else’s production.

According to Raul Vacchiano of SNY, the Giants and Williams started negotiating late last season, but the two sides are “not close” on a deal. Apparently, he is seeking $18-20 million per season, putting him in the same monetary range as Kansas City Chiefs star, Chris Jones.

Let’s take a look at Jones and his production over the past few seasons, specifically in 2019, when he was elected to a Pro Bowl. Last season, Jones posted 9.0 sacks, forced one fumble, earned 36 combined tackles, and logged 20 quarterback hits. If you go back one more season to 2018, he posted 15.5 sacks, 40 combine tackles, 29 quarterback hits, and forced two fumbles.

His numbers make Williams look like an undrafted free agent, which is why entertaining that type of money for a player of his caliber isn’t even worth talking about.

Recently, ESM reporter Anthony Rivardo spoke about the possibility of the Giants letting Williams walk and paying Jones alternatively, considering Williams is looking for the same number.

The New York Giants have options after 2020

Jones will be a free agent after the 2020 campaign, giving the Giants a fantastic option in case Williams doesn’t produce. It is estimated that Jones will be seeking a deal in the $16-20 million range, similar to Williams. He is currently on a one-year deal with the Chiefs, earning $16.1 million this upcoming year.

Of course, there is the possibility that Williams has a fantastic season, but he hasn’t earned over five sacks since 2016 in his sophomore year. It would be silly to entertain a contract worth more than $14 million per season for Leo, who hasn’t sniffed a Pro Bowl in three seasons. With Gettleman in charge, though, anything is possible.

It is also fair to mention that Williams has a ton of hidden production, but even after considering those statistics, he is nowhere near worth the amount he is looking for on a per-season basis.

New York Giants: 3 players that need to step up on defense in 2020

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New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers

The New York Giants are heading into the 2020 season with unpredictability scattered across the board. Their offense might have some new talented pieces, but we don’t know what the offensive line holds or how Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley will perform behind them.

On defense, the Giants landed safety Xavier McKinney in the draft and brought in several new players in linebacker Blake Martinez and pass rusher Kyler Fackrell. With general manager Dave Gettleman attempting to piece together the defense and rid the team of underperforming athletes, we should expect an increase in production, but there are several players that need to step up and fill the void.

Here’s a look at three players the New York Giants need to step up on defense:

1.) Lorenzo Carter

Carter needs to improve in 2020, after posting two seasons of uninspiring play. After his rookie campaign, most were excited to see Carter make his debut in his sophomore season, as he contains the size and speed to be a quality player in the NFL.

After posting 4.0 sacks, 43 combined tackles, and 10 quarterback hits in just 40% of defensive snaps; he backed it up with marginal improvements in year two. Carter posted 4.5 sacks, 45 combine tackles, 13 quarterback hits, and a 15.1% missed tackle rate on 65% of snaps.

The sophomore slump is undoubtedly a real thing, as expectations were weighing down on Carter’s shoulders. At 24 years old, the Giants shouldn’t give up on him yet, and I expect him to earn about 50% of defensive snaps with Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator. If the Giants manage to retain Markus Golden on a one year deal, Carter could be pushed on the depth chart, but his development is essential in the progression of the Giants’ pass rush.

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New York Giants: 3 hot takes going into the 2020 season

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New York Giants, Leonard Williams

The New York Giants have a long way until the 2020 season is underway, with training camp under a month away and several legal proceedings still being ironed out.

Nobody knows if DeAndre Baker or Aldrick Rosas will see the field again, but we must push forward nonetheless.

Let’s take a look at three hot takes for the New York Giants going into the 2020 campaign:

1.) Leonard Williams will be in the Pro-Bowl

When general manager Dave Gettleman sent a third-round pick to the New York Jets in return for Leonard Williams, the fanbase was up in arms. Prior to joining the Giants, Williams had posted 0 sacks, 20 combine tackles, and five quarterback hits with the Jets through seven games. In the second half of the year, he posted 0.5 sacks, 26 combine tackles, 11 quarterback hits, and miss just 3.7% of his tackles, amounting to just one.

The thing about Williams is that he makes everybody around him better, Dalvin Tomlinson and Dexter Lawrence both saw increases in production and efficiency due to the arrival of the former Jet. Leonard’s ability to draw double-teams and put pressure in the trenches and collapse the pocket is precisely why Gettleman hit him with the franchise tag, which will pay him about $16 million in 2020.

Paying him that much money comes with expectations, as the once great uncle Ben from Spiderman said, “with great power comes great responsibility.“

Williams has a lot of expectations on his shoulders, but I believe he will live up to the hype this upcoming season. With half a season of experience and an off-season worth of virtual chemistry building with his teammates, I believe he will replicate the production he saw earlier on in his career when he posted 7.0 sacks and 19 quarterback hits in 2016. We know he’s capable of much more, it’s just a matter of putting him in the right scheme and situation to succeed. I believe defensive coordinator Patrick Graham can unearth his hidden production.

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Should the New York Giants Try To Trade For Chiefs DL Chris Jones?

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The New York Giants have arguably one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. General manager Dave Gettleman has made it a priority to build through the trenches. Since becoming the general manager in 2018, Gettleman has invested

But what if this defensive line could get even better? What if Gettleman made one last investment to push the unit over the top? One of the best young defensive linemen in the NFL, Chris Jones, could be a potential blockbuster trade target.

Why would this trade make sense for the Chiefs?

The Kansas City Chiefs and Chris Jones are in the middle of a contract dispute. Chris Jones even threatened to sit out the 2020 NFL season if he does not receive a long-term contract extension. Jones is seeking a deal worth more than $20 million per year.

“[Chris Jones] always viewed himself as a $20 million-plus-per-year guy. The Chiefs, frankly, never did. Even before the whole COVID situation, they never made an offer north of $20 million — felt like they could get him somewhere below that. A lot of work to be done here if there’s going to be a long-term deal for Chris Jones…” – Mike Garafolo of NFL Network

Additionally, the Chiefs have another superstar to pay. You might have heard of him. Patrick Mahomes? Yeah, they have to pay him soon. Showtime Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL and he is about to get paid like it. Reports indicate that Mahomes could seek a contract worth more than $40 million per year. It would be tough to pay Mahomes that amount while also paying Chris Jones $20 million. This cap dilemma could lead the Chiefs to trade away Chris Jones.

If the Chiefs were to trade Chris Jones to the New York Giants, receiving Leonard Williams and a draft pick in exchange would make sense for them. Trading away Jones would be a huge loss for this defense. But obtaining Leonard Williams would surely soften the blow. Williams could fit right into Jones’s previous role with the team. He would not perform in that role as well as Jones did, but Williams is still one of the better players in the league at the position. Plus, his contract will be much cheaper than Chris Jones’s.

On top of that, if the Chiefs do not give Williams a long-term deal, they will be eligible to receive a third-round compensatory pick in the next NFL Draft if Williams walks away in the 2021 free agency period.

Why would this trade make sense for the Giants?

In order for this trade to make sense for the New York Giants, they will need to free up some cap space. This offseason, the Giants placed the expensive franchise tag on IDL Leonard Williams. The one-year franchise tag is worth over $16 million in cap space. Williams is seeking a new, long-term contract. That contract will likely be worth around $16 million per year.

If the Giants were to offer a trade for Chris Jones, they should begin by including Leonard Williams in the deal. Leonard Williams is a highly-talented defensive lineman and is arguably top-ten in the league at his position. But Chris Jones is arguably top-two. If the Giants could make that upgrade for a few million more in cap space, they should.

Chris Jones is a legitimate pass-rushing threat from the interior. In 2018, Jones totaled 15.5 sacks and 49 pressures. He followed that up with a 9 sack, 27 pressure performance in 2019. According to Pro Football Focus, Jones ranks third among interior defenders in pass-rushing grade over the past four seasons. He also has recorded 212 pressures in that time span, fourth-most (PFF).

If this hypothetical trade were to come true, the Giants would have to throw in a draft pick. That pick could be the deal-breaker. If it is a high pick, then they should not take the deal. Draft picks are extremely valuable in the first three rounds, especially for a rebuilding team like the Giants. But if they can complete the trade by throwing in a mid-to-late round pick, plus a new $20 million-per-year contract along with Leonard Williams, the Giants would be acquiring one of the NFL’s brightest defensive stars in Chris Jones.

Why would this trade make no sense?

If this trade were to happen, the Chiefs would be losing the best player on their defense. Keeping Chris Jones is going to cost the Chiefs a lot, but he is worth the money. Jones has been one of the most consistent and dominating defensive lineman in the NFL over the past four years. At only 26 years old, the Chiefs would be wise to keep Jones as part of their long-term plans. If they feel like they can afford to pay him, they will.

On the flip side, the Giants might not consider this trade worth it. As stated previously, the extra draft pick is the key. If the trade requires a second-round pick, the Giants should turn the other way. But even if it only requires a fifth-round pick, the Giants might not be interested. The Gmen are a rebuilding team. Cap space is valuable. Maybe they are not the best team to pay a defensive lineman $20 million per year.

Then again, Dave Gettleman does love his hog mollies and Chris Jones is one of the best hog mollies in the NFL. Maybe he will be enticed by a potential trade for the young and dominant Chris Jones. It may be a long shot, but a trade does hypothetically make sense. This could be exactly what the New York Giants need.

New York Giants, Joe Judge to ‘push’ Leonard Williams

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New York Giants, Leonard Williams

Leonard Williams is entering his first full season with the New York Giants. The Giants acquired Williams from the New York Jets before last season’s NFL trade deadline for a 2020 third- and 2021 fifth-round draft pick. The Giants utilized the franchise tag on Williams this offseason, which pays him roughly $16.1 million for the 2020 season.

New head coach Joe Judge is encouraged by the team’s conversations with Williams, and the Giants have made it clear that they plan to “push” the defensive lineman.

“Leonard has had a really good spring in terms of what we’re able to do working virtually,” Judge said, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “He’s done a phenomenal job working with our coaches. He’s been great in meetings. He’s been very active. We’ve had great conversations. And we’ve expressed to him how much we’re gonna work and push him, that we want to see him maximize his potential.”

Judge says there has been minimal talk about a long-term deal for Williams.

“There have not been extensive talks on contracts since the spring’s gone virtual.”

The head coach wants Williams to maximize his potential this season.

“The biggest focus I have on Leonard right now is that this year, he can really go ahead and maximize his potential. I’m looking forward to working with him for this year, and I’m really looking forward to working with him on the field, finally, to be honest with you.”

The Giants have put a lot of stock in their defensive line. Alongside Williams is Dexter Lawrence (one of the team’s three first-round draft selections in 2017), Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill, RJ McIntosh, and Austin Johnson, a free-agent signee.

Williams appeared in eight games for the Giants last season. Across those games, he totaled 26 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 0.5 sacks. Across his five seasons in the NFL, Williams has totaled 266 combined tackles and 17.5 sacks.

Leonard Williams Tag Named New York Giants Biggest Offseason Mistake

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New York Giants, Dave Gettleman

The New York Giants have had an eventful offseason and have improved in some areas while taking a hit in others, but one of their more controversial moves remains the franchise tagging of Leonard Williams.

Of course, the controversy didn’t just start with Williams getting the tag. The trade to bring Williams to the Giants was controversial in and of itself, with many questioning after the season whether or not the Giants had gotten much out of it given Williams’ slow start with the team.

Just as controversial, though, is the decision to keep paying Williams big money for a player who hasn’t performed yet, under the franchise tag. According to Bleacher Report, it’s the biggest regret the Giants will have from this offseason.

Let’s be honest. The New York Giants may regret trading for defensive lineman Leonard Williams more than they regret hanging onto him. They gave the crosstown Jets a third-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder to land Williams and got little in return.

In eight games, Williams had just 13 solo tackles and half a sack. Yet general manager Dave Gettleman has defended the trade.

Williams will, of course, have higher expectations in 2020 while playing under a new and hopefully better defensive coordinator, with a full offseason to get used to being on the team. But as a player on the Jets, Williams never quite turned the corner either and became the player the Jets were looking for, not repeating his 7 sack sophomore performance in either of the past two years before his trade.

Things aren’t looking all bad for the Giants and Williams, however. If Williams has one saving grace, it’s that he led the league in quarterback hits last season, indicating some potential to step up and get more actual sacks and tackles for a loss in 2020.

The front office made their choice and decided to keep Williams for 2020 despite the 2019 performances – whether or not that choice will pan out remains one of the big questions for the year and the coming season.