Leo the Lion

Leonard Williams is eating through the competition and right into a new contract

- Chris Bisignano

When Giants general manager Dave Gettleman traded with the Jets for defensive lineman Leonard Williams at last year’s trade deadline, the Giants fan base went wild. Many viewed it as Gettleman’s low moment as the Giants’ GM, with some questioning his sanity.

Not anymore.

Williams has become one of the Giants’ most productive players on defensive coordinator’s Patrick Graham’s defense, and the man known as the “Big Cat” is proving to be a steal for the much-maligned Gettleman.

“I know a lot of people questioned the trade to get me over here,” said the sixth-year veteran.

Williams isn’t just having a good year, he’s having a Pro Bowl year, leading the Giants with six sacks, eight tackles for loss, 19 quarterback hits, and 38 total pressures. Williams is one sack shy of his career-best seven which he achieved in 2016 as a member of the Jets.

Williams does so many things for this defense; he often takes on two blockers giving linebackers like Blake Martinez plenty of opportunities for tackles. He plays the five- and three-techniques and creates havoc on opposing offensive lines. Williams does so much that does not show up on the stats sheet, but it certainly does not go unnoticed on Monday’s film meetings when coaches go over the previous game with the team.