Leonard Williams has now been traded twice in his career, but the ex-Giants defensive end felt that only one of those trades was handled to his liking. 

The Giants traded Williams to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a fifth-round pick in 2025. 

Williams told reporters in Seattle on Wednesday he knew being traded was a possibility, and the Seahawks deal was brought to him to receive his blessing before proceeding.

“The way it was proposed to me through my GM [Joe Schoen] and with my agents was a respectful way I think,” Williams said. “I’ve been traded before and it was very abruptly and I kind of had no say or anything like that.”

The trade that Williams was alluding to was the deal the Jets pulled off to send him to the Giants in October 2019, which was Joe Douglas’ first season as Jets GM.

The Jets sent Williams to the Giants on the eve of the trade deadline with what appeared to be very little warning, according to Williams.

Things did seem to work out for Williams during his four-plus seasons with the Giants, in which he recorded 22.5 sacks. 

“Out of respect for me and where I’m at in my career being a little older, [Schoen] pretty much let me know that there was a few teams, including Seattle, that were on the winning side of the season and gonna make a push this year,” Williams said of this trade. 

“He was just like, ‘I know you have a connection with a lot of those guys over there.’ So he was pretty much like, ‘Let me know before four o’clock today.’ Talk with your agents and stuff like that. So the way it happened felt a little more negotiated and I think it went well.”

Williams has 1.5 sacks, five quarterback hits and one tackle for loss through eight games, and gives the first-place Seahawks some much-needed help on the defensive line.