Green Bay Packers Trade Targets: DT Leonard Williams

While many Green Bay Packers fans hope the team trades for a receiver, it is defensive tackle Leonard Williams that Brian Gutekunst should be targeting.

The NFL trade deadline is this upcoming Tuesday and many Green Bay Packers fans are hopeful that the team will add a veteran wide receiver to the mix on offense. And while looking into acquiring a Robby Anderson, for example, would make a lot of sense, perhaps pursuing his teammate, Leonard Williams would be more valuable for the Packers this season.

After a huge game by the receiving core against the Oakland Raiders, it appears that they and Aaron Rodgers are starting to get on the same page after a rough couple of quarters against Dallas and Detroit. But one area that doesn’t appear to be getting any better is the run defense.

As good as the defense has been this season, they have been worked by opposing running backs. Minnesota would rush for 198 yards, while the following week Denver would total 149. Then Philadelphia ran for 176, with Dallas totaling 122 on the ground. And just last Sunday, Oakland would go for 155. Overall, the Green Bay Packers are giving up an average of 128.9 rushing yards per game which ranks 24th in the NFL.

Enter fifth-year defensive tackle, Leonard Williams, who like Robby Anderson is reportedly a trade candidate of the New York Jets as they sit at just 1-5 on the season and will try to recoup some sort of value for Williams as he is in the final year of his contract.

Up to this point in his career, Williams has been very durable and has started all but one game. He’s also been very effective for the Jets both as a pass-rusher and in run defense. Through his first four full seasons, Williams has averaged 51.1 total pressures including 5.25 sacks, with 15.75 quarterback hits, and eight tackles for loss.

For some context, if we look at Kenny Clark’s 2018 season – his best to date – he would total 46 pressures, 6 sacks, four quarterback hits, and eight tackles for loss. From a production standpoint, Williams over his career has been very similar to what we saw from Clark last year.

Of course, there is some risk involved in trading for Williams. As I mentioned above, he is in the final year of his $14.2 million contract and the Green Bay Packers would have to pick up a portion of that deal. But with roughly $10 million in cap space still left over this season according to Spotrac, they could make it work.

Additionally, with Williams being an unrestricted free agent in 2020, these may be the only games he plays as a Packer. However, if they did want him back beyond 2019, you would hope that his time in Green Bay would give them the inside track to re-signing him.

This is a Green Bay Packers defense that despite giving up the seventh-most yards per game is still only allowing 19.9 points per game which is the ninth fewest in football. Adding a defensive tackle of Leonard Williams’ caliber to the mix could help take this already stout defensive unit to the next level. And if that is the case, then GM Brian Gutekunst needs to be calling the Jets as we speak.