Giants Pursued DT Brandon Williams

Not long after the Eagles signed both Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh, the Chiefs made a move to bolster their run defense by adding Brandon Williams. The 10th-year veteran made his Chiefs debut in Week 14, notching a half-sack and two quarterback hits.

The Chiefs were not the only contending team to reach out to Williams during the season. The veteran defensive lineman said the Giants wanted to add him as well (via KSHB’s Pete Sweeney, on Twitter), but location helped steer him to Kansas City.

Williams, 33, made his way to the NFL through the Division II ranks, starring at Missouri Southern. The former Ravens third-round pick currently lives in Arkansas and said that with a baby on the way he wanted to stay closer to home. This nixed a potential reunion with new Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale, who was with the Ravens for all nine of Williams’ seasons in Baltimore.

The Ravens re-signed Williams back in 2017, and he played out that five-year, $52.5MM deal last season. Despite being a 114-game starter in Baltimore, Williams did not garner too much interest this offseason. The Chiefs were able to sign the 336-pound defender to their practice squad and move him up ahead of their Week 14 game against the Broncos. Now on Kansas City’s 53-man roster, Williams played 15 defensive snaps in the Chiefs’ win.

The Giants have added a few ex-Ravens on defense this year, signing Tony Jefferson, Jihad Ward and Justin Ellis. Each was in Baltimore during Martindale’s DC run. The team has also been active in bolstering its defense with outside help during the season, signing Fabian Moreau, Jaylon Smith and Landon Collins. While Collins has only played in two games during his second Giants stint, the team has used Moreau and Smith as starters. Moreau, cut by the Texans this summer, has been especially important after the injuries to Aaron Robinson and Adoree’ Jackson.

Leonard Williams has missed a career-high four games this season, and the Giants also lost Nick Williams to a season-ending injury. The Giants, who did not re-sign Austin Johnson this offseason, were without an active Williams on their D-line in Week 14. Leonard Williams has been back at practice this week.

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