What Leonard Williams Brings To The New York Giants’ Defense

The New York Giants struck a deal with the other MetLife team today as they acquired defensive lineman Leonard Williams via trade. Williams is a former first-round pick. He was selected sixth overall by the New York Jets in 2015.

Since then, Leonard has had a solid career but has never really hit his full potential. Williams was a highly-touted prospect coming out of college, boasting a 7.53 prospect grade on NFL.com, projecting him as a future All-Pro player. As previously stated, Leonard Williams has yet to meet those high expectations, but he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016.

The Giants have now acquired this Pro-Bowler for a 2020 3rd round pick and a 2021 5th round pick. The trade could be a “win-win” for both teams. Williams can be an impact player to solidify the Giants’ already impressive defensive line for years, and the Jets get to move on from a player who no longer fits their defensive scheme before his contract expires.

Williams was not a fit in the Jets’ new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’s scheme, but he should be a good fit in the Giants’ defensive scheme led by James Bettcher.

Leonard Williams Is An Excellent Run Defender

Over the past four years, Leonard Williams has established himself as one of the NFL’s best run-defending defensive linemen. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams is tied for the third-most run stops among interior defenders since 2016 with 97 total. This puts him behind the likes of Snacks Harrison, and Akiem Hicks, but ahead of Jurrell Casey.

Leonard also has the third-most tackles for loss among interior defenders since 2016 with 43 (PFF). This total is only 4 less than that of Aaron Donald’s and 4 ahead of Damon Harrison’s.

Here is another impressive stat that Pro Football Focus pointed out: Since 2016, 38.7% of Leonard Williams’ run tackles have gone for a loss or no gain, which is second to only Aaron Donald. Williams has totaled 32 tackles for loss through his four and a half years in the NFL.

Leonard Williams is dominant in run-defense. But how is he as a pass-rusher? Well, he is not as good in that department as he is in stopping the run, but he is better than what the Giants have right now:

Leonard Williams Improves The Giants’ Pass-Rush

The New York Giants have been struggling to get after the quarterback all season. So far, they have the third-lowest pressure rate (19.6%) in the NFL this season (according to Next Gen Stats). Through eight weeks, four Giants defensive linemen are tied for the most quarterback pressures.

Dexter Lawrence, Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill, and Olsen Pierre have all generated 7 pressures each. In that same time span, Leonard Williams has generated 14 pressures as a member of the New York Jets. Williams should step in and increase the Giants’ pressure rate immediately.

And if you’re not sure why this is so important, check out how this Leonard Williams pressure led to an interception on Tom Brady:

At only 25 years old, Leonard Williams is not just a one-year rental. His rookie contract does expire this offseason, but the Giants are more than likely going to resign him. He has been a solid player throughout his career so far and he still has yet to reach his maximum potential. The Giants did pay a high price for Williams, but they do have extra compensatory picks coming and more trades to make to regain those assets. Leonard Williams should be a rock to solidify the Giants’ defensive line over the years.