Shortly after the 2022 season had concluded, New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams said he would be open to taking a pay cut much to the delight of general manager Joe Schoen.
However, to date, Williams has not been asked to take a pay cut and there have been no known extension negotiations. Accordingly, he is set to play out the 2023 season on the final (non-void) year of his deal and will account for the NFL’s third-largest cap hit.
Williams is on the books for $36.26 million. Only Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill have larger cap hits.
Biggest cap hits in the NFL this year (via @spotrac)
Patrick Mahomes $39.7M
Ryan Tannehill $36.6M
Leonard Williams $32.3M
Jared Goff $31M
DeAndre Hopkins $30.8M
T.J. Watt $29.4M
Myles Garrett $29.2M
Jake Matthews $28.4M
Chris Jones $28.3M pic.twitter.com/O6lQzTyLjm— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) May 19, 2023
William’s cap hit, which includes an $18 million base salary, currently accounts for 14.1% of the Giants’ entire salary cap.
Next year, assuming Williams isn’t extended or re-signed, the Giants will pay him $5.96 million as part of the prorated bonus ($17.88 million of his 2022 salary was turned into a bonus with the 2024 void year being added).
The 28-year-old Williams missed five games due to injury last season but should be healthier this year thanks to a much deeper defensive line rotation.
