On October 31st, 2023 the Seattle Seahawks gave the 12th Man quite the treat when they traded for defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The move was not without risk, however. In order to obtain Williams, they needed to fork over a second round pick to the New York Giants. A hefty price to pay for an impending free agent on the last year of his contract.
While there was some trepidation at the cost, many 12’s expected general manager John Schneider wouldn’t have traded for Williams without a reasonable expectation he could get a new deal done. The faith was rewarded, as the Seahawks have agreed to terms with Williams.
When it was announced defensive lineman Christian Wilkins would be going to the Las Vegas Raiders on a four-year, $110 million dollar contract – with $84.75 million guaranteed – the asking price for Williams became set. Now, it seems this has proven correctly, as Williams will be making roughly $21.5 million per year, similar to Wilkins.
This is quite the lucrative contract for an interior defensive lineman. But as any Seattle fan will quickly tell you, there may not be such a thing as overpaying on a quality player like Williams – especially at a position of considerable need for the Seahawks.
The challenge begins for new head coach Mike Macdonald and Co. for building a lasting contender in the Pacific Northwest. Keeping Leonard Williams in the fold is a great building block to begin with.