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Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the New York Giants have agreed to a 3-year, $63 million contract with defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
Giant and Leonard Williams have agreed on a 3 year deal for 63 million with 45 million fully guaranteed. Roosevelt Barnes and Brandon Parker, and exec Kevin Abrams finished the deal today.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021
The Giants have been trying to get a long-term deal done with Williams for some time now, and it seems they finally have one in place.
As of this writing we don’t know the exact structure of Williams’ contract, but Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News is reporting that the long term deal will lower Williams 2021 cap number from over $19 million to a more team-friendly $11 million.
Confirmed. Leonard Williams and Giants have a deal. Source also tells me Williams' new cap hit for 2021 season is $11 million (more than $8 million less than the tag he was carrying). Clears space for other moves. https://t.co/ELiNTFdRLI
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) March 16, 2021
Tom Pelissero is also reporting that Williams will get $45 million guaranteed and that his cap number for 2021 will be $11 million. Had he played on the franchise tag, that cap number would have been $19.351 million.
That $8 million in cap savings allowed the Giants to come to terms with wide receiver John Ross (one year, $2.5 million) and fullback Cullen Gillaspia [Full story].
Williams’ average of $21 million per year ties him with DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts for the second-richest interior defensive lineman contract behind Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams. Williams $45 million in fully-guaranteed money is second outright, $5.6 million ahead of Buckner and $5 million behind Donald.
Adam Schefter is reporting that Williams will now drop his positional grievance.
Final year-by-year terms:
Leonard Williams' deal with the Giants:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 16, 2021
Signing bonus: $22.5M
2021 salary: $3.5M (guaranteed)
2022 salary: $19M (guaranteed)
2023 salary: $18M
A straightforward, strong deal.