Would NY Giants actually pull franchise tag from Leonard Williams?
With rumors swirling of the NY Giants potentially pulling the franchise tag from Leonard Williams, we examine the feasibility knowing that Dave Gettleman has a history with this.
Just when you thought the thick of free agency was over for the NY Giants, a few people in the media have begun circulating a wild idea for Dave Gettleman to consider. The base of the idea involves pulling the $16.1 franchise tag off his prize possession, Leonard Williams, and re-investing that money into a player on the free agency market that hasn’t found the deal they’ve been looking for.
The idea sounds crazy at first glance – and it is – but it becomes more possible when you consider that Dave Gettleman has already pulled the franchise tag from a player before with Josh Norman in 2016. Even though he didn’t give up draft capital with Norman like he just did with Williams, Norman was a far better player, and Gettleman became frustrated and said: “We don’t see a path towards a deal.”
After negotiations with Williams that have seemingly gone nowhere, maybe he feels the same way now. When you also consider the available player that the people in this camp are campaigning Gettleman swap out the tag for and go after, the scenario becomes a little more possible again.
That player? None other than three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney, a player I’ve longed wish could find his way onto the NY Giants. While that dream scenario faded as each day of free agency went by and the team spent more and more money, Clowney is somehow still available and his market has reportedly been extremely cool.
Ryan Dunleavy of the NY Post broached the idea yesterday, and explained how he thinks it could go down:
"In three steps: 1. Find out Clowney’s can’t-refuse number on a one-year contract. 2. Rescind the franchise tag on Williams. 3. Free up an additional few million in salary cap space by restructuring bonus figures on another contract."
The way Dunleavy spells it out, it doesn’t seem like it’d be an entirely difficult thing to put together. The major hurdle would seem to be Dave Gettleman’s pride – an all too common occurrence – although I think most NY Giants fans would be thrilled with him if he could actually pull this off.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger also chimed in on the possible scenario.
"“I don’t think it’s crazy,” NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said when the scenario was posed to him. “The guy that has to suffer is Gettleman, but nobody thought Clowney would still be here. It’s, ‘I like the blue coat [of paint], but the red Ferrari is really what I always wanted.’ ”"
Baldinger makes a wise point about no one ever thinking Clowney would still be here at this point, or that his value would have ever been this low. With most thinking the former All-Pro would land a deal in the $20M-$25M range, rumors are that he won’t get anything close to that and is considering a one-year deal only to get back on the market when the salary cap explodes next year.
If that’s the case, this needs to be considered. While the Giants are much more than one player away, Clowney would change the overall feel of this defense overnight in a way Leonard Williams never could. A true difference maker and one of the best defensive players in football, Clowney would make every player on this defense better and fill a major hole as Big Blue has no legitimate pass rush to speak of at the moment.
Having just turned 27-years-old, he’s around the same age as Williams and if the numbers are anywhere close on potential one-year contracts this would be a home run scenario.
It’s highly unlikely due to Gettleman having so much personally invested in Leonard Williams, but this move would be the best thing for the NY Giants.
That’s all that matters.
Next. 5 Remaining free agents that make sense for NYG. dark