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Should The New York Giants Go After Mario Williams?

By Christopher Schwarz

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) looks on with red contact lenses from the bench during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) looks on with red contact lenses from the bench during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants had issues at almost every level of their defense this past season. While safety and linebacker have gaping holes, the championship Giants teams of the past have always been built on a stellar pass rush. The ability of those Super Bowl teams to pressure top-level quarterbacks helped mask the shortcomings in the secondary and especially among the linebackers.

The Giants are a long way from the days of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck as evidenced by their pass rush in 2015. New York got just 23.0 sacks on the year ranking them 30th in the NFL. We all know the story of Jason Pierre-Paul, the lone unique talent on the defensive line, who amassed just one sack in his eight games this season. Robert Ayers was able to notch 9.5 sacks on the season, but of course the Giants could use some help on the line.

Of the free agent defensive ends available this offseason, JPP and Ayers included, one name the Giants will consider is Mario Williams. Williams is expected to be released by the Buffalo Bills this offseason after just 5.0 sacks on the year. The former number one pick in the 2006 draft is 30 years old, but only a year removed from a season where he notched 14.5 sacks. Williams would provide the Bills with about $12 million in cap relief after he struggled to fit in Rex Ryan’s defense.

The Giants are in a position where anyone could help their struggling pass rush, but is Williams worth the risk and the money? Ryan seemed to take a shot at his defensive end last week in a meeting with the media. “I’ve always had a system that relies on the players. Putting our players in the best position to be successful for all 11, not one,” Ryan said. “It’s not just built for one man, it’s built for all 11 men.”

Williams complained during the season that Ryan would drop him back in coverage rather than having him rush the passer. While his complaints may have been warranted, he seems like a player out for himself. Teammates have speculate anonymously that not only is he selfish, but he lacks work ethic.

The negatives are out there for Williams, but put in the right scheme, he could certainly still have an impact on the Giants. It’s still way too early to think that Williams is the only option for their struggling pass rush, but free agency goes quickly. Luckily, the Giants have money to spend and could be one of the top bidders for guys like the Dolphins’ Olivier Vernon or the Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson.

Also, how does it look for the Giants to pluck a pass rusher from one of the two teams with fewer sacks than they had in 2015?

The Giants are likely to draft a pass rusher in the first few rounds of the draft, but one rookie won’t transform a pass rush the way they need. So, is Mario Williams a viable option for the G-Men?

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