The Seahawks’ contract standoff with Leonard Williams just took a new turn

The Seahawks’ contract standoff with Leonard Williams just took a new turn originally appeared on The Sporting News .

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Seattle Seahawks star defensive tackle Leonard Williams is entering the final year of his current contract, but the two-time Pro Bowler isn’t letting ongoing extension talks distract him from preparing for the 2026 season.

Williams confirmed Tuesday that his representatives and the Seahawks have had preliminary discussions about a new deal, though nothing has been finalized.

“There’s been a few conversations, but nothing set in stone,” Williams said .

The 32-year-old veteran is in the final season of the three-year, $64.5 million contract he signed in March 2024, just months after Seattle acquired him from the New York Giants during the 2023 season. Under the Seahawks’ long-standing policy, players are not eligible for contract extensions until they have one year remaining on their current deal, making Williams eligible for negotiations this offseason.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Williams says his focus remains solely on football.

“I try not to think about it,” Williams said. “When I focus on just being where I’m at, focusing on my team and how I can get better individually, things always tend to work themselves out.”

Williams is still waiting for his payday

Williams has become one of the NFL’s premier defensive linemen since arriving in Seattle. He has earned Pro Bowl selections in each of his two full seasons with the Seahawks, received second-team All-Pro honors in 2025, and has totaled 18 regular-season sacks during that span. He also added another sack during Seattle’s playoff run that ended with a Super Bowl LX championship.

His dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed around the league. In ESPN’s annual survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts, Williams was voted the NFL’s top defensive tackle. One defensive coordinator even called him “the most important player on that Super Bowl team.”

While Williams appreciates the recognition, he insists it won’t change his mindset.

“It’s an honor to get that recognition from my peers,” he said. “But I’m definitely not letting it get to my head. I’m out here competing. There’s a bunch of young guys still trying to take my spot.”

With training camp underway, Seattle hopes contract talks can eventually lead to an agreement that keeps one of the league’s most dominant defensive players in the Pacific Northwest for years to come.

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