1. DL Leonard Williams
Just like with Dave Gettleman, I’ve been as hard on Leonard Williams as anyone in this NY Giants organization during my time here — funny enough, they go hand in hand.
It’s taken me a long time to get over – and I still fully haven’t – what I feel was one of the worst trades to go down in the NFL in the past decade, which is really considering something with guys like Bill O’Brien making personnel decisions.
But now, it’s time for me – and us – to embrace Williams as a member of the NY Giants and has a monster season next year as that would be the best outcome to get back some of that lost draft capital we gave up acquiring him.
Analytics or no analytics, 0.5 sacks and 2 TFL in 16 games is just nowhere near in the realm of deserving a franchise tag or a long-term extension, so for Leonard and the NY Giants, his success this season is going to have lasting effects on the both of them.
Am I incredibly confident that he’ll put together a great season? Honestly, no. But, I’m hopeful that with a new scheme and all his untapped potential that it is possible, and if it was to happen, he alone could solve a lot of our pass-rushing problems.
So while the Leonard Williams saga continues, he’s got the most to prove on this team and for this team by a mile.
Let’s all hope that happens.