Leonard Williams receiving franchise tag locks in huge NY Jets draft haul

Leonard Williams is set to receive the franchise tag from the NY Giants. That’ll lock in the NY Jets huge draft haul. Here are all the details.

Last season the NY Jets and the NY Giants made history by completing the first trade in the team’s history with each other (to actually go through).

Gang Green shipped off disappointing former first-round pick Leonard Williams to their cross-town rivals for a package of draft picks.

The Jets received what would turn out to be the No. 68 overall pick in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In addition, they received a conditional fifth-round pick in 2021.

Here was the kicker: if Big Blue re-signed Williams ahead of the new league year, that fifth the Jets received would upgrade to a fourth-rounder.

Although something that was very unclear is what happens if the Giants franchise or transition tag Williams? Does that still count as a contract extension? Do the Jets get an upgraded draft pick in 2021?

On Monday morning ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that the NY Giants are expected to franchise tag Leonard Williams.

Per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Big Blue plans on tagging him as a defensive tackle instead of as a defensive end. That means he’ll receive a one-year deal for around $16.1 million, if he were tagged as a defensive end he would make $19.1 million.

It’s unclear if the Leonard Williams camp will file a grievance on that front, but it’s a distinct possibility.

Regardless with Leonard getting tagged the Jets still only receive a fifth-round pick in 2021. The only way that’ll be upgraded to a fourth is if the Giants and Williams come to terms on a long-term deal ahead of the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 18 at 4:00 p.m.

ESPN’s Rich Cimini confirmed the news on Twitter on Monday morning. Even if the pick doesn’t get upgraded this was still a massive home run for general manager Joe Douglas.