Leonard Williams Updates Seahawks Contract Talks After Jalen Carter's Historic $152M Eagles Deal

After the defensive tackle market hit a new high on Tuesday with Jalen Carter signing a four-year, $152 million extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, Leonard Williams picked a good time to talk about a new deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

Speaking to reporters from training camp, Williams revealed he has had "conversations with the Seahawks even though no deal is imminent right now.

"There's been a few conversations," Williams said, "but nothing set in stone."

Williams did admit he's not letting his contract status distract his focus from preparing for the upcoming season:

"I try not to think about it, honestly. I've always been that type of guy. I've obviously had a lot of contracts at this point in my career, and I've always noticed players that really focus on their contract end up not playing well, they end up having their head in the wrong place, and I've noticed that 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."

The $38 million average annual salary on Carter's extension makes him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the NFL, surpassing the previous mark of $35.3 million for Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons.

Williams is set to make $16.7 million in 2026, the final season of a three-year, $64.5 million contract signed in March 2024. He just turned 32 on June 20, so his age makes it unlikely he will come close to matching the total of value of Carter's extension.

However, Williams is one of the most dominant interior defenders in the league. He has recorded 18 sacks in 33 games over the past two seasons and made the All-Pro second team in 2025.

In the annual league survey of each position group prior to the start of training camps conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Williams was voted the NFL's best defensive tackle entering the 2026 season.

"He was the most important player on that Super Bowl team," one NFL coordinator told Fowler of Williams. "He's the total package."

Coming off their Super Bowl win last season, the Seahawks have a lot of contract decisions to make in the near-future. They already took care of Jaxon Smith-Njigba in March with a four-year, $168.6 million extension.

Devon Witherspoon has reportedly received an extension offer that would make him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL.

Byron Murphy II can't extend off his rookie contract until next offseason, but he's another interior defender who was also probably happy to see the details of Carter's extension.

Williams was originally acquired by the Seahawks in a midseason trade with the New York Giants in October 2023. His 22 sacks in 43 games with Seattle is five more than he had in 61 games with the Giants.