A day after moving into first place in the NFC West, the Seahawks made a big move ahead of the trade deadline to strengthen an already talented defense, agreeing to terms on a trade with the New York Giants for former Pro-Bowl defensive end Leonard Williams.
In exchange for Williams, the Seahawks will send to the Giants their 2024 second-round pick, as well as a fifth-round pick in 2025. While the Seahawks give up their second-round pick next year, they do have an extra third-rounder acquired in a trade with Denver made during the 2023 draft.
Williams, a former No. 6 overall pick out of USC, is in his ninth season in the NFL, starting his career with the Jets in 2015 before being traded to the Giants during the 2019 season.
Williams adds to a Seahawks defensive line that was overhauled during the offseason, with Seattle signing Jarran Reed, Dre'Mont Jones and Mario Edwards Jr. in free agency and adding Cameron Young and Mike Morris, who is on injured reserve, via the draft.
In Seattle, Williams will be reunited with former defensive teammates from his time with both the Jets and Giants, safety Jamal Adams, who was also the No. 6 overall pick two years after Williams, and safety Julian Love, who spent his first four seasons with the Giants before signing with the Seahawks this offseason.
Williams, 29, has started seven of eight games played this season, recording 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed and five quarterback hits. Williams earned Pro-Bowl honors in 2016 when he had 7.0 sacks, 68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits, and over the course of 132 games, he has 39.5 sacks, 59 tackles for loss and 162 quarterback hits. In 2020, his first full season with the Giants, Williams had career-highs in sacks (11.5), tackles for loss (14) and quarterback hits (30).
Leonard Williams was the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Jets where he played three and a half seasons before being traded to the New York Giants. Check out some of the best photos from Williams' career so far.
FOR WEEKEND USE - FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2015 file photo, New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams (62) celebrates with teammate Leger Douzable (78) after sacking Atlanta Falcons quarterback Sean Renfree (12) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J. From the high-profile guys at the top of the draft, to the low-round gems and undrafted free agents, rookies have made a significant impact this season.(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is pressured by New York Jets' Sheldon Richardson (91) and Leonard Williams (92) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is sacked by New York Jets' Leonard Williams (92) and Muhammad Wilkerson (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Bengals were one of the best teams at protecting the quarterback the last few years. During a 2-3 start, they've been among the worst, with Andy Dalton under constant pressure. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 file photo, New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams (92) yells prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. Leonard Williams is serious about tackling a leadership role with the New York Jets. So much so, the big defensive lineman has spent the offseason taking courses on the subject, trying to help fill what has become an ever-growing void on the Jets' veteran-purged roster.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) is sacked by New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams (92) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets defensive tackle Leonard Williams during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Sunday, Nov. 17, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New York Jets' Jamal Adams (33) and Leonard Williams (92) celebrate during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams (92) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams (92) celebrates after bringing down Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, bottom, who was trying to gain yardage on a scramble during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams celebrates after sacking Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, not pictured, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams (92) celebrates during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, runs past New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams (92) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New York Giants' Leonard Williams (99) rushes toward New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steven Ryan)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and cornerback James Bradberry (24) take down Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) takes the field during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) tries to avoid a tackle by New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) defends against Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) runs to the ball during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) runs the ball against New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in action against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota Vikings guard Olisaemeka Udoh (74) and guard Ed Ingram (67) block against New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the first half of an NFL wild-card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) is brought down by New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams (99) gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) sacks Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams (99) takes the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams (99) takes the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
