ESPN Oct 30, 2023, 2:46 p.m. ET3 Minutes display
Pat McAfee praises Seahawks for Leonard Williams trade
Pat McAfee explains why he’s glad the Seattle Seahawks traded for Leonard Williams.
The New York Giants are trading defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
In exchange for Williams, the Seahawks are sending a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Giants, according to sources.
The Giants will cover most of the $10 million owed to Williams, sources told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
The move comes a day after the Giants lost in overtime to the New York Jets and fell to last place in the NFC East at 2-6. The Seahawks, who beat the Cleveland Browns to improve to 5-2, lead the NFC West.
With this move, the Giants are struggling and trying to add resources for the future. Williams was in the final year of a three-year, $63 million contract signed in 2021. He was unlikely to return next season at such a high price after the team chose Dexter Lawrence this offseason.
Williams is one of several Giants players who have drawn interest ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, a source told Raanan. New York could make further moves, although the team recently told running back Saquon Barkley that it was their intention not to trade him.
Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and wide receiver Parris Campbell are two other potential trade options.
The previous Giants regime under Dave Gettleman traded from the Jets to Williams in 2019. That cost them selections in the third and fourth rounds. The difference was that the Giants were in the midst of a losing season while the Seahawks are potential NFC contenders.
Four years and one day later, Williams leaves New York for the first time in his career. He was drafted sixth overall by the Jets in 2015. This leaves a significant hole in the middle of the Giants defense, which has been built around Lawrence and Williams in the middle over the last few years.
The Giants defense will now likely shift its focus to Lawrence and fullback Kayvon Thibodeaux, who had three sacks against the Jets on Sunday and now has 8.5 sacks this season.
Williams has 1.5 sacks this season and 39.5 sacks in his career.
News of the trade was first reported by NFL Network.