DL – Leonard Williams:
Why is the pressure on for Leanord Williams?
Williams is coming off of a monster season for the NY Giants, and just scored a massive contract ($45 million guaranteed.) Why would the big defensive lineman be feeling any pressure?
Williams needs to prove his 11.5 sacks in 2020 weren’t a fluke.
If Williams underperforms and reverts back to his pre-2020 production, when he averaged 3.5 sacks over a 4-year span, the NY Giants’ defense will be in trouble.
The NY Giants lack a second pass-rusher that opposing offenses need to worry about.
Additionally, Dalvin Tomlinson won’t be there to eat up double teams and his presence will be missed. Gettleman has invested a lot in Williams, in terms of both salary cap space and draft capital.
The front office can’t afford to miss on the pass-rushing interior lineman.
What will Williams have to improve upon in 2021?
Fans and the opposing coaching staff would be ecstatic if Williams is able to repeat his Pro-Bowl production from a season ago.
The former sixth overall pick by the NY Jets has always been elite vs. the run. He just needs to prove that he can be a consistently elite pass rusher from the interior defensive line position.
Will pressure make diamonds?
I don’t think the NY Giants will regret paying Williams $63 million for three years. Patrick Graham utilizes the big defensive lineman out of USC perfectly in his versatile scheme. The extra attention Williams will get could open things up for the promising Dexter Lawrence this season.