'Willing To Play Wherever!' Seattle Seahawks DL Leonard Williams Is Ready To Help His New Team Win
The Seahawks are in first place after eight weeks of the season and have just made a move to make the already impressive defense even better. Ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, Seattle acquired former Pro Bowl defensive end Leonard Williams from the New York Giants.
The Seahawks will send their 2024 second-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2025 to the New York Giants in exchange for Williams. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll thinks Williams will have an immediate impact, otherwise, the team wouldn't have given up such valuable draft stock.
Williams is the kind of player who can fit just about anywhere due to his versatility, and he knows it.
Leonard Williams
USA Today
“I’m versatile and I can play the run and I can pass rush. I bring a lot to the game and wherever you put me or need me to do, I can do that. I know sacks aren’t everything; I think I’m good at pushing the pocket, I think I’m good at getting pressures and getting sacks as well.”
Carroll and the Seahawks thought Williams would be an immediate fit on their defense, and Williams agreed.
"I’ve been playing D-line for a long time and there’s not going to be too much of a difference here," Williams said. I’m willing to play wherever they want me to play. I think I’m a pretty versatile player. I can play end, nose, three-technique, wherever, preferably three-technique. I’m excited. The team seems fun and has a lot of energy in the meetings, on the field and stuff like that. I’m just coming in open-eyed and taking it all in.”
Williams also commented on how his style might mesh with the rest of the defensive line, and how long it might take for them to gel.
“I think that’s something that’s going to happen naturally. I think that’s going to happen in practice today, it’s already happened in the walk-through," Williams noted. "I can already see on film how some of these guys play. (Jarran) J-Reed has been playing some really good ball this year. He’s been a good help to me today so far. (He’s) been walking me around and introducing me to people, and I’m looking forward to playing with him. I’m going to change here and there if I have to fit the scheme, but overall, they told me to be the player that they know I am. And they said that’s why they brought me here.”
