Fresh off one of the most historic meltdowns in NFL history, the New York Giants had to be feeling even worse waking up Tuesday morning. The sting of blowing a 26–8 lead with under six minutes left to the Denver Broncos still lingers, but it might’ve been former Giants star Leonard Williams’ Monday night performance that pushed this fan base over the edge.
Just under two years ago, general manager Joe Schoen shipped Williams to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder. Big Blue was floundering — as they do best — and draft capital and financial flexibility felt like the right call over extending the former Pro Bowler. But after watching him wreck the Houston Texans’ offensive line in primetime, just one night after Big Blue’s defense collapsed in a 33–32 loss, it brings up a familiar, and frustrating conversation.
Related: Full details of Leonard Williams trade have been finalized after latest Giants pick
The stat sheet won’t tell the full story, but the tape sure will. Williams was everywhere. It felt like the second the ball was snapped, he was already in the backfield. And after watching the Broncos drop 33 fourth-quarter points, it’s hard to ignore how badly the Giants miss exactly what Williams used to bring — and how much it’s starting to show.
Giants’ defensive collapse makes Leonard Williams’ absence feel even bigger
It’s impossible to say what this defense would look like had Leonard Williams never been traded, but it’s fair to wonder how much better things could be right now if he were still lined up next to Dexter Lawrence. They’re already paying Brian Burns and have invested heavily in this side of the ball. The missing ingredient feels obvious.
The G-Men have the talent. They're lacking the drive and effort that No. 99 brings on a nightly basis, and that can't be taught.
Picture a front that features Kayvon Thibodeaux, Lawrence, Williams, and Burns, with Abdul Carter crashing from the outside. That’s the kind of unit that makes quarterbacks nervous. Instead, Williams is anchoring a defense across the country and building something that sure looks like what the Giants hoped theirs would become.
And to make matters worse, he didn’t hold back postgame, telling reporters what many fans were already thinking:
"This has been the best defense I have been a part of."Leonard Williams
After Denver dismantled Big Blue on Sunday, it’s clear this defense still has a long way to go before it can help this team compete. The lack of urgency and inability to close was frightening. It’s just unfortunate they fumbled a perfect solution two years ago.