Giants’ Deadline Looms For Signing Leonard Williams To Long-Term Contract

Despite being one of the most prominent profiles on the 2020 New York Giants, not much has been said about defensive lineman Leonard Williams’ contract situation and if the two sides are any closer to a long-term deal.

A likely reason for that is that Williams signed his franchise tender back in late April, which means he’ll be guaranteed just north of $16 million for one year if the two sides don’t work out a long-term deal by the July 15 deadline.

Given the uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic has cast over the NFL, it could be to where Williams is content playing out the one-year franchise tag since its payout is presumably in the neighborhood of Williams said to be seeking per year. 

In signing the tender, Williams showed good faith in working with the Giants toward a potential longer-term deal, but he also was able to participate in the team’s virtual off-season program.

It would behoove Williams to get a long-term deal done now, especially with the potential of next year’s salary cap being affected if the COVID-19 pandemic results in no fans in the stands. If that scenario comes to fruition, it would potentially cost the league a projected $5.5 billion in lost revenue.

But then there is the other side of the coin. Williams would be one of a handful of defensive linemen under the age of 30 to hit free agency (assuming the Giants don’t franchise him again). As such, he might be willing to gamble on getting a more lucrative deal regardless of what happens with the salary cap this year.

That would be quite a gamble. If the league revenue drops, that would potentially have a ripple-down effect on teams looking to extend players or sign free agents unless the NFL and NFLPA work out an arrangement by which the league can borrow against future projected salary cap amounts.

To be clear, the looming COVID-19 effect on league revenue has not stopped teams from issuing contract extensions. Carolina recently extended running back Christian McCaffrey on a blockbuster type of deal. At the same time, other teams like the Jets have been reluctant to redo the contract of star safety Jamal Adams.

Then there are those clubs such as the Cowboys who have been playing a game of cat and mouse with quarterback Dak Prescott ever since applying the exclusive franchise tag on the quarterback.

Ultimately, it’s believed that Prescott, who has not yet signed the tag, and the Cowboys will meet somewhere in the middle, given the quarterback’s importance to the team, even if such a deal goes down to the wire.  

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has not spoken to the media since after the 2020 draft concluded, and he typically refrains from discussing anything contract related. 

But he has said in the past that one of his goals as general manager has been to eliminate as many distractions as possible for the team and that in having applied the franchise tag on Williams, he was at peace with the decision and the potential path future negotiations might take.

“You can’t guarantee anything in this life, but we have gotten to know Leonard well, and I feel comfortable with the decision,” Gettleman said before the draft.