EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants placed the franchise tag on defensive lineman Leonard Williams after working on a long-term deal, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The tag deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Both parties wanted to get something done, and the franchise tag could still act as a placeholder. The tag (for the second consecutive year) is a mechanism to make sure that Williams remains a Giant after a career-best season where he finished with 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterbacks hits, good for third in the NFL. His 41 quarterback pressures were seventh among interior defensive linemen, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.