Giants general manager Dave Gettleman on Friday addressed his trade with the Jets for defensive lineman Leonard Williams, though Gettleman continues to hide from actual reporters’ questions.

Gettleman said he plans to sign Williams — who is a pending free agent — to a long-term contract, after sending a third-round draft pick and a fifth-rounder to the Jets. The fifth-rounder becomes a fourth-rounder if Gettleman signs Williams long-term.

“We gave up a three and a five," Gettleman told the Giants’ website, while speaking to a co-worker who is also paid by the organization. "Our goal is to sign him long-term. He’s only 25 years old. And obviously talented. He’s a piece you can build around.”

The Giants have no plans to make Gettleman available to real, independent reporters — people who don’t accept money from the organization — this season, as he continues to show a lack of public accountability for his decisions.

Gettleman told his Giants co-worker that he likes Williams as an all-round defensive lineman, and thinks Williams can rush the quarterback productively, even if some stats might say otherwise.

“Leonard is a legitimate pass rusher,” Gettleman said.

In 71 career games over four-plus seasons, Williams has 90 quarterback hits, but just 17 sacks.

The Giants have exclusive negotiating rights with Williams until free agency begins in March. But he isn’t obligated to re-sign with them, of course. He can always test free agency.

So there is some risk with the Williams trade, but if Gettleman’s co-worker pressed him on that subject, the answer was not published. Gettleman, while speaking to his co-worker, raved about Williams, as you’d expect.

“It’s a great add for us moving forward, because you have to build this thing brick by brick,” Gettleman said. “We have one of the youngest teams in the league, and this for us is a very strong add. It’s a process.

"This is a talented young football player who we can add to the other talented young kids that we have. Leonard is not just a run defender, not just a pass rusher. He’s a legitimate three-down player.”

NFL analyst Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater.