3 potential landing spots for Leonard Williams just in case the Seahawks are stupid

The Seattle Seahawks should make Leonard Williams one of their top off-season priorities. There is no shortage of destinations for a man of his talents. I believe these are the top three opportunities for him. John Schneider better not let the latter scenarios happen, though.

You might guess from the title that I think the Seahawks have to do all they can to keep Leonard Williams in Seattle for the foreseeable future. If so, you would have guessed wisely. He was one of their few reliable defenders all season. The fact that Williams didn't join the Hawks until Week 9 makes his performance all the more impressive.

Due to a quirk in the bye weeks, Large Leonard played in 18 games in 2023. Hmmm...wonder if he gets an extra game check? Kidding; of course, he doesn't. But we're focused on the 10 games he played for the Hawks.

For a better idea of the impact Williams had in Seattle, we'll compare his stats to those of the other defensive linemen. The Seahawks rotated a few guys into the lineup quite a bit, so we'll look at performance per 1,000 snaps as well as total numbers. Why 1,000? It's an easier point of reference as if we were looking at some beast like Bobby Wagner. The following are the five players who saw at least 100 snaps on the defensive line for Seattle, along with the pertinent statistics. You'll find the data per 1,000 snaps a bit more illuminating.

Exactly why the Seattle Seahawks need to re-sign Leonard Williams

A few things really pop out in these tables, especially when you look a the numbers per thousand snaps. First, Dre'Mont Jones truly underperformed, especially considering that massive contract. As Lee Vowell wrote before Week 16, Jones should not return to the Hawks. He didn't miss many tackles, but that's the only stat that stands out for him. Mario Edwards had nearly twice as many tackles for a loss, far more stops, and nearly the same rate of sacks for about five percent of the money.

But the standout here is Williams. Per 1,000 snaps, he made far more tackles than any other Seahawks lineman. Jarran Reed had a few more stops and sacks, but Williams had nearly twice as many tackles for a loss, more hurries overall, and missed fewer tackles. Williams was also the only Hawks lineman to grade above 70 in run defense, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His grade was 70.9; for reference, Jones was at 61.8, Edwards 59.8, with Reed and Young at 53 and 52.9.

Anyone watching the games could tell you that, as the middle got run over time and again. Williams's overall PFF grade was a stellar 76.9. Add the versatility he brings by his ability to play at tackle or end, and he's a standout for any team.

As for how the Seahawks can afford to re-sign Williams. they have quite a few roster cuts that should be made anyway. A post-June 1st cut of Jones would clear $11.5 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com.

As much as I've supported Jamal Adams during his time in Seattle, it's clearly time to move on, as Bob Condotta wrote in The Seattle Times. He detailed that a post-June 1st cut for Adams would shave a sweet $16.5 million off the 2024 cap. Quandre Diggs has been a phenomenal player for the Hawks, but his performance has declined. In 2023, he became the wrong kind of anchor, dragging the Seattle defense further down.

Tim Weaver wrote on the Seahawks Wire for USA Today that cutting the Hawks free safety would save $11 million on the 2024 cap. Julian Love can't hold down both positions at the same time, but that additional cap space could go a long way toward keeping Williams in Seattle.

But if the Seahawks are stupid, the Titans would be thrilled

The 6-11 Titans had the 29th-rated defense, according to Pro Football Focus (you know, the paywalled guys). They were 16th in points allowed and 17th in yards allowed, but that still allows a lot of room for improvement. Surprise surprise, one of their biggest weaknesses was along the defensive line.

Only one interior lineman, Jeffery Simmons, got over 600 snaps, and he wasn't exactly an All-Pro. He definitely got after the quarterback with 47 pressures, but he was mediocre against the run. Compare his PFF grade, 68.4, to Williams at 76.9. The problem for Tennessee is that Simmons was their best interior lineman.

Teair Tart was second in snaps with 350, Kyle Peko third with 342, and Jaleel Johnson fourth with 270 snaps. While Simmons was used more often in the pass rush, 393 snaps to 254, the latter three players were used much more as every-down players. Unfortunately for the Titans, they weren't up to the task. Tart and Johnson graded out at 57.1 and 54.0, respectively, while Peko was an abysmal 38.6. That tends to happen when you miss 30 percent of your tackles. He must have been watching the Hawks tackling drills.

So the Titans could certainly use a player like Willams, who is equally at home stuffing the run and putting the quarterback on the turf. Can they afford him? According to overthecap.com, yes, with ease. Tennessee has the second-most cap space in the league next year, at $68.1 million. With $131.9 million for 2025, they're sixth in the league, so they have long-term assets available as well. If the Seahawks don't keep Williams home, the Titans would be crazy to pass up the chance to get him.

The Patriots could begin the climb back with Williams on the line

New England is in better shape on the defensive line than Tennessee. That's about the only spot they have an advantage, but that is the position we're talking about. The Patriots ranked 7th in yards allowed but weren't very efficient, as they ranked 15th in scoring defense. The run defense was exceptional as they surrendered just 3.3 yards per carry. It would be nice to see something approaching that in Seattle, right 12s? That stout showing was mainly due to a solid linebacker corps, and edge defenders that forced everything inside.

The only interior lineman of any note on the Pats was Christian Barmore. He led the group in snaps, tackles and stops - yes, that was deliberate phrasing, and no, you won't get that from AI. Barmore also had 49 pressures. Every other interior lineman combined recorded just 21. PFF rated Barmore at 93.8 overall. The two other linemen with the most snaps by far were Davon Godchaux (rated 50.2) and Lawrence Guy Sr, (rated 45.5). They were both inadequate against the run at best, so you can see why Williams, again, would be a huge upgrade for the team.

As for those pesky financial considerations, yes, the Patriots can afford him. They rank third in cap space for 2024 with $66.1 million available now. In 2025, they'll top the league, with a ridiculous cap space of $190 million. That's $31 million more than the second-place team, the Lions. So, yeah, they're pretty well set to give Leonard Williams a nice, fat, long-term deal in New England. That doesn't even take into account all the money they'll save on their hoodie budget.

Those are hardly the only teams that could use Williams, or afford him. The Cardinals have $42 million in space next year and $151 in 2025. They could definitely use an upgrade at defensive lineman; after all, they're losing L.J. Collier to free agency. That's not a dig at St. Louis, by the way; he was a first-round pick by the Seahawks, as we know all too well. Moving forward, let's hope that was one of the guys Pete talked John into drafting and not the other way around. As for Leonard Williams, I think John Schneider must give the new coach, whoever he may be, one of the best weapons he could ask for on the Seahawks' defense.

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