Leonard Williams signed his franchise tender this week, but things are far from settled. The Giants lineman will file a grievance to be classified as a defensive end rather than a defensive tackle, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets. 
[POLL: What Will Giants Do At No. 4?]
This year, the franchise tag for defensive tackles is worth $16.1MM while the defensive end tag is priced at $17.9MM. That would make a difference of $1.8MM for the coming year and, more importantly, it’d give Williams’ camp additional leverage in talks.
Dave Gettleman was widely criticized for his decision to tag Williams this offseason. Although talented, Williams has been inconsistent throughout his career. By cuffing him in March, the Giants put Williams on the books for the second-highest cap number on the team.
“Really what it came down to was we felt good about our cap space,” the Giants GM said. “We felt for what Leonard brings to the table and for our team, it was more prudent to put the franchise tag on him.”
Meanwhile, Williams is pressing for a long term deal. The two sides have until mid-July to hash out a contract, but Gettleman doesn’t seem to be in any rush.
“You can’t guarantee anything in this life, but we have gotten to know Leonard really well and I feel really comfortable with the decision,” Gettleman said. “Contracts get done when they’re supposed to get done. So we’ll move along.”
Lol right after he signs the tender? Giants probably would rather revoked and sign Clowney had they known. And if they knew, another bad decison by the GMens GMan
You should be happy that a team (my team) was stupid enough to a) make a trade for you in the first place and b) offer you the franchise tag. Gimme a break. The Giants brought this on themselves but Williams is trash. Would barely get 10 million on the open market.
Williams is a solid player with some potential. He’s not “trash” by any means.
Soiled trash
He’s trash that has the potential to be garbage.
lol. I saw on an earlier article that the dude barely played D End last year. Guy shouldn’t even be getting the money that comes with a franchise tag
560 snaps inside, 81 at end. Case closed. He’s not worth either number anyway lol
So if the snap count at position is true, this isn’t even a story…the league will not agree with him….case closed!
Giants probably knew this when they tagged him, and he had all that time to file but waiting until the eve of the draft……can move on with their football business regardless of how we all feel about their ability to do that business.
End or tackle he doesn’t produce enough to be getting either
Absolutely correct!
Stopping the run and making holes for blitzers isn’t important?
He had 2 tackles for loss man he’s doing serious damage against the run. Also giants had a top 3 worst defense in the league who was getting to the qb thanks to the holes he was making cause I don’t see anyone racking up sacks on the giants
Don’t disagree but in todays screwed up world of “pay me my money” in the NFL, the Jags edge rusher, who was 36th in the league at his position is pouting because he’s not “gettin his pay” for what he did over the past 3 years and is asking for a “monster extension” looking forward…..I think I read that Williams, even though he doesn’t get the sacks was rated higher than 36th at his position…..so what’s the gripe with him anchoring the D-Line?
They only offered the tag to save face of the awful trade. Giants should have just let him go. Save the cap space for someone else. Not worth it
Maybe, but whats done is done….we all need to move on and look to the future of what this team can be with him on it.
Giants should draft Kinlaw and let Williams go
Gettleman is truly a pile of trash
I believe the Giants hold the last pick in the draft. They should make that guy the next GM cuz he’s bound to be smarter than Gettleman.
A dog in a business suit is smarter than Gettleman.
Dopey Dave with his top advisors.
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