Williams is entering the final year of the three year, $64.5 million deal he signed after being acquired from the Giants back in 2023.
Where Things Stand
Per ESPN, Williams said he prefers to keep his head out of the negotiation and focus on football, noting that players who fixate too much on their contracts tend to play worse.
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams confirmed there have been early discussions about a contract extension as he enters the final year of his current deal.
— Green 19 Football (@Green19Football) July 29, 2026
Williams said he has had "a few conversations" with the Seahawks but isn't allowing negotiations to distract… pic.twitter.com/coiLVZ4qXb
He's earned the benefit of the doubt.
Williams made the Pro Bowl in each of his two full seasons in Seattle and was a second team All-Pro in 2025, then was voted the league's best defensive tackle by executives, scouts and coaches in an ESPN poll this offseason. His $21.5 million average salary currently ranks just 14th among interior defensive linemen, a number that looks light given his production.
The Complication
The timing is not ideal for a cheap extension. Just this week, Jalen Carter reset the defensive tackle market with a four-year, $38 million per year deal in Philadelphia.
The Seahawks are in conversations with DL Leonard Williams on a new deal, per @BradyHenderson. pic.twitter.com/wQNKCeAhjo
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 29, 2026
The Seahawks are reportedly looking at aligning any new Williams deal closer to what Chris Jones and Jeffery Simmons make, in the $32 to $35 million range annually, a significant jump from his current number and a bigger figure than Seattle was negotiating with even a week ago.
