The Seahawks agreed to terms with defensive tackle Leonard Williams to keep him in Seattle, according to multiple reports Monday evening.

The contract is reportedly worth $64.5 million over three years, which would make Williams — who was acquired in a midseason trade — the highest-paid player on the Seahawks’ new-look defense under head coach Mike Macdonald. That eclipses fellow defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones, who signed for three years and $51 million one year ago.

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How he fits: Hoping to improve their defensive line in the wake of losing edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu to a season-ending pectoral injury, Seattle acquired Williams from the New York Giants ahead of the trade deadline in October, giving up a 2024 second-round pick and a fifth-round selection in 2025. The 2024 pick turned out to be the 47th selection in the upcoming draft. In 10 games with the Seahawks, Williams was among the team leaders in sacks, quarterback hits, tackles for loss, run stuffs and pressure rate. Seattle’s defense didn’t improve after acquiring Williams, but he proved to be an impactful presence in the middle.

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The Seahawks’ biggest free-agency decision: Can they keep Leonard Williams?

2024 impact: Seattle had a statistically underwhelming defense in 2023, one that lacked identity and couldn’t get off the field. The run defense was bad for the second straight season. As the second half of the season illustrated, Williams alone can’t fix all those problems. But a versatile interior defensive lineman — someone who can line up at end, over the center or at three-technique — is a valuable chess piece. Macdonald wants his defense to be multiple up front, and Williams makes that easier to accomplish.

Leonard Williams has his first sack as a member of the @Seahawks!

📺: #WASvsSEA on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kECSNGc6Bj pic.twitter.com/pYWjuzjIoK

— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2023

History: The deal that sent Williams to Seattle was the second midseason trade of his career. Originally a first-round pick of the Jets in 2015, Williams went from one New York team to the other in 2019 when the Giants gave up selections in the third and fifth rounds to acquire him. He later signed a three-year, $63 million extension with the Giants. New York struggled to start the 2023 season and had no intentions of signing him to a second, lucrative multiyear deal this offseason, which is why the team was willing to part with him at the trade deadline and pay a portion of his salary to increase the draft compensation from Seattle.

Cap update: Seattle began the week with more than $50 million in salary-cap space after releasing safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, tight end Will Dissly, special teamer Nick Bellore and re-negotiating receiver Tyler Lockett’s contract to lower his cap hit. Williams’ exact cap hit is currently unknown, but based on how Seattle has structured deals in the past, the first-year cap hit might be low, with steep rises in the final two years of the deal to account for the annual increase in cap space.

The market for interior defensive linemen has steadily continued to climb. Last year, the 49ers gave Javon Hargrave $21 million per year ($84 million total) on a four-year contract. The Titans signed Jeffery Simmons to a four-year, $94 million deal. Then the Jets’ Quinnen Williams topped that with a four-year, $96 million extension. Last week, the Ravens and Justin Madubuike agreed to a four-year, $98 million deal. Kansas City’s Chris Jones recently reset the market with a five-year, $158.75 million deal, leaping the Rams’ Aaron Donald as the highest-paid interior defensive lineman. On Monday, Christian Wilkins and the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a four-year, $110 million free-agent deal.

All of those players except Hargrave are in their 20s, and all are either Pro Bowlers or All-Pro selections within the past two seasons. Basically, they’re the best at the position and have youth on their side. Williams, who turns 30 in June, doesn’t fit into either category, but he was an impact player on Seattle’s defense last season, and the premium the team paid to acquire him, coupled with the booming interior defensive lineman market, allowed him to cash in with an average annual salary just north of Hargrave’s deal.

Outlook: The Seahawks still have a lot of work to do on defense. They need at least one more starting-caliber safety, preferably one with ball skills. Pro Bowl safety Julian Love had four interceptions last season, but he’s more effective when playing near the line of scrimmage. Bobby Wagner is unlikely to re-sign with the Seahawks, and Jordyn Brooks agreed to terms with the Dolphins on Monday, leaving Seattle with massive holes at inside linebacker. The team could use another edge rusher, too. Re-signing Williams is the start of a major rebuild on defense.

(Photo: Jane Gershovich / Getty Images)