Leonard Williams Signing Franchise Tag With Giants Could Set up Grievance Case Down the Road
By Brady Williams
in 2019, the New York Giants traded for Leonard Williams halfway through the season. In order to keep him around for more than just a half season and retain some value from their trade, the organization has placed a franchise tag on him for at least this season. They can still work out a long-term deal by July 15th, but his contract negotiations could be the least contentious thing the Giants will have to have to speak with him about.
The Giants want to tag him as a defensive tackle, which is a much less expensive position. Williams believes he's a defensive end. This kind of dispute could easily spiral into a grievance because Williams could miss out on money he thinks he's owed.
Giants’ DL Leonard Williams is signing his franchise tender, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2020
Question is whether it will pay him as a DE or DT; Williams thinks he’s the higher-priced DE, Giants think lower-priced DT. Difference is about $1.7 million in price.
Pro Football Reference recorded him as a defensive end in every season he's played, and when Williams was drafted, it was as a defensive end. By marking him as an ambiguous 'defensive lineman', the Giants have avoided specificity and can claim he's a tackle.
It also remains to be seen how he'll be used in the upcoming season. They could very well play Williams on the interior, as he spent a significant amount of time there in 2019.
The NFL listed Leonard Williams as DT for franchise tag purposes. Position is where a player took the most snaps in the prior League Year. The difference between DT ($16.126M) & DE ($17.788M) is $1.662M. The last grievance of a franchise tag position was by Jimmy Graham in 2014.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) April 22, 2020
Whether the Giants truly believe he's a tackle or they're simply pulling a shady move to save some cash, Williams is missing out on over $1.6 million, and he's going to want to make up for that, either by filing a grievance or securing a great deal.