On Monday, the New York Giants made a big splash when they traded defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Giants got back great value in return for the veteran and at 2-6, the move was met with a lot of praise for general manager Joe Schoen.
Still, there is no denying that the loss of Williams will leave a void for the Giants, both on and off the field.
“Love Leo. A lot of respect for Leo. I’d say that Seattle called Joe (Schoen) and Joe told me about it. Joe had a private meeting with Leo, those guys talked about it, good conversation and decided that’s what we were going to do kind of on both ends,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Wednesday.
“A lot of respect for Leo, certainly we’ll miss him but have confidence in the guys — A’Shawn Robinson and (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) Nacho and those guys that we have that are playing his spot.”
While being introduced in Seattle, Williams praised the Giants for how the trade was handled.
Leonard Williams on his conversations with Joe Schoen and how a deal came to be pic.twitter.com/7lEm9JfDbs
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) November 1, 2023
“I think the way it was proposed to me through my GM and with my agents was a respectful way,” Williams said. “I’ve been traded before and it was very abruptly; I kind of had no say. In this situation, my GM came to me, and he wasn’t shopping me around, but out of respect for me and where I’m at in my career being a little older, he pretty much let me know that a few teams — including Seattle — that were on the winning side of the season and going to make a push this year.
“He was like, ‘I know you have a connection with a lot of those guys over there.’ He was pretty much letting me know, ‘Before four o’clock today, talk with your agents.’ The way it happened felt a little more negotiated and I think it went well.”
After being shocked by the trade from the New York Jets to the New York Giants back in 2019, The Big Cat clearly appreciated the way the Giants handled Monday’s trade.
Dexter Lawrence, who made for an elite interior defensive line in his time playing with Williams, praised his former teammate, saying, “You cannot replace Leonard.”
“I don’t want to hear the things about how do we replace Leonard? You can’t replace Leonard, he’s only one of one. So, the next guys got to step up and do their job,” Lawrence said, via Newsday.
The trade made too much sense for both the Giants and Williams given his age and desire to win at this point in his career.
The Seahawks are getting a good one in Williams. The words from head coach Brian Daboll and Williams’ former Giants teammates this week certainly reflect the type of player Williams was both on the field and in the Giants’ locker room.
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