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Giants trade Leonard Williams to Seahawks after brutal Jets loss

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The Giants lost for the sixth time in eight games when they blew a lead and were overtaken by the Jets in overtime, 13-10, Sunday.

A day later, with the NFL trade deadline looming on Halloween, one of their most accomplished players was jettisoned.

The Giants sent defensive tackle Leonard Williams to the Seahawks in exchange for a 2024 second-round draft pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Williams, on the books for a base salary of $18 million, was in the final year of the three-year, $63 million deal general manager Joe Schoen inherited when he took over prior to the 2022 season.

Williams counted a massive $32.2 million on the current salary cap and cutting him loose would have saved the Giants $9 million on the cap, but the Giants are absorbing that money in this transaction, paying most of the remaining $10 million on Williams’ contract for the remainder of the season.

The Giants will save $4.6 million on their 2023 salary cap with this move.

Still, basically, they are purchasing two draft picks in exchange for Williams’ services, and the Seahawks get to rent Williams for a budget price for their final 10 games.

Receiving a second-round pick for Williams can be seen as a win for Schoen.

The Giants have not approached the deadline looking to discard Williams, but when the possibility of acquiring a second-round pick presented itself, the makings of a deal developed.

Would the Giants have wanted to re-sign Williams for big bucks after the season? No.

A popular presence in the locker room, Williams, 29, was overtaken on the field by Dexter Lawrence, a fully risen star who this Giants regime committed to with a four-year, $90 million contract extension, including $60 million in guaranteed money, securing Lawrence through the 2027 season.

This was likely to be the final season for Williams with the Giants, and with his production down and the team never attaining playoff contention, the move was made to send him out.

In eight games, Williams had 21 total tackles, one tackle for loss, five quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.

He recently spoke of sacrificing on the field, as far as filling the role defensive coordinator Wink Martindale crafted for him, to allow Lawrence to shine as the most productive defensive lineman.

This is not expected to be a tear-down situation for the Giants, with the Williams trade likely the only major deal before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

Veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is also in the final year of his contract and has been supplanted by rookie Deonte Banks as the No. 1 cornerback on the team. Jackson committed a ghastly pass interference penalty in overtime Sunday, costing the Giants 30 yards and setting the Jets up for their game-winning field goal.

A more drastic move would be trading away safety Xavier McKinney, who is only 24 and a team captain, if the Giants are convinced they will not be interested in spending big money to re-sign him after the season.

At this point, there does not seem to be much interest in moving either player.

The Giants have no interest in trading running back Saquon Barkley.

“I’m sure it’s in the back of a few people’s minds and guys who potentially could be in that position,’’ second-year linebacker Micah McFadden said. “Whatever happens with that, happens. As players, we don’t have a whole lot of control over that. I think we are just kind of focused on football right now.’’

The Giants last season were 6-1 when Schoen traded away wide receiver Kadarius Toney to the Chiefs for two draft picks.

At 2-6, Schoen again added picks, with Williams a much more significant loss and player than Toney ever was.

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Without Williams, the Giants have veteran interior lineman A’Shawn Robinson available to move into the starting lineup.

The Seahawks will rework Williams’ deal.

They are also reworking their defensive line, signing Frank Clark last week. In Seattle, Williams reunites with former Jets teammates Geno Smith and Jamal Adams and former Giants teammate Julian Love.

Williams posted on Instagram, “It’s been an honor to be a part of the Giants organization and everything it stands for. This place will always have a special place in my heart.’’

He ended the post with “Seattle here we come! GO HAWKS!!!’’

Williams spent the first 4 ¹/₂ years of his NFL career with the Jets as the No. 6 overall pick in 2015.

In late October 2019, the Giants acquired Williams, sending a third- and fourth-round pick to the Jets. So, four years later, the Giants did better with this return than what they initially gave up for Williams.

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Valentine Belue

Update: 2024-07-31