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NY Giants: NFL agents project contracts for 3 key impending free agents on defense

By Matt Lombardo

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 02: Leonard Williams #99 of the New York Giants reacts after sacking Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at MetLife Stadium on November 02, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 02: Leonard Williams #99 of the New York Giants reacts after sacking Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at MetLife Stadium on November 02, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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The resurgent NY Giants defense has powered New York’s run at the NFC East championship in recent weeks, but three key contributors are set to be free agents at season’s end

Three of the NY Giants’ most dominant defensive players are set to be free agents at season’s end, and the decision over whether to keep them in 2021 or beyond have massive implications for the future trajectory of the franchise.

Sitting at 4-7 atop the NFC East standings, the NY Giants have won three consecutive games, largely on the back of a defense that has improved in recent weeks. That defense has been powered by consistently dominant performances from defensive linemen Dalvin Tomlinson, Leonard Williams, and in recent weeks safety Logan Ryan.

All three are set to be free agents.

Williams might be the most difficult decision that general manager Dave Gettleman — or who ever is GM this offseason — must make, especially because he is in the midst of the most productive, disruptive, and dominant season of his career.

“The Giants really need to ‘untangle the Christmas lights’ when it comes to Williams,” a league source tells GMenHQ. “Is he shining brighter because all the other bulbs on defense are playing better? Or is he finally shining at the level that he was always expected to and is bringing others up with him? That determination will determine whether he’s going to command a contract in the top-3 at his position, or the top-5.”

While Williams might be the most difficult decision the Giants must make, Tomlinson and Ryan also make compelling cases for long-term deals, and both have played exceptionally well this season.

GMenHQ surveyed several agents on what kind of contracts Tomlinson, Logan Ryan, and Leonard Williams can expect this offseason. Each agent was granted anonymity to speak freely about what they expected each player to command on an extension from the Giants:

DL – Dalvin Tomlinson

Tomlinson, a home grown talent and one of the Giants’ most dominant defenders, is certainly the type of player the organization should want to commit to and build around long-term.

So far this season, Tomlinson has produced 26 34 total tackles, two sacks, and according to Pro Football Focus has 16 total pressures. Along with Williams and Dexter Lawrence, Tomlinson’s consistently strong play up front has powered the Giants’ defense’s resurgence over the second half of this season.

The Giants’ second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Tomlinson has 194 total tackles, six sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in 59 career games. Tomlinson has also never missed a game so far in his career.

As the Giants aim to build around players that were drafted into the program, re-signing Tomlinson will likely be a top organization priority.

Agent’s take:

“He’s definitely the type of player I’d think they would want to commit to. He’d probably wind up commanding something like a five-year deal worth between $60-$63 million with an APY somewhere in the $10-$12 million per season range.”

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