Darious Williams

Rams To Bring Back CB Darious Williams

Following the end of his Jaguars tenure, Darious Williams is set to head back to Los Angeles. The Super Bowl-winning corner is finalizing a three-year deal to return to the Rams, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Williams had a very brief tenure with the Ravens during his rookie season in 2018, but midway through that campaign he joined the Rams. The former UDFA remained with the team through the 2021 campaign, by that point having established himself as a full-time starter. Williams landed a three-year, $30MM pact with the Jaguars in 2022, but Jacksonville elected to take $11.5MM in cap savings by releasing him last week.

The Alabama-Birmingham alum had four interceptions in 2023, and during his two-year Jags stint he racked up 35 pass deflections. That ball production understandably led to outside interest once Williams was let go, including a visit with the Giants. Rather than joining a fourth career team, he has elected to return to a familiar environment. Raheem Morris was in charge of Los Angeles’ defense when Williams was last with the Rams, but Morris’ replacement (Chris Shula) was with the team at that time as well.

Williams, 30, will join a Rams defense which ranked 20th against the pass in 2023, faring better than many expected in the absence of Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles only posted 10 interceptions, however, and better production in that regard would go a long way in ensuring a repeat of last year’s postseason appearance. Williams will look to pick up where he left off with the Rams in 2024 and beyond.

Los Angeles made a pair of major investments on offense yesterday, agreeing to deals with guard Jonah Jackson as well as tight end Colby Parkinson. Those additions will eat into the team’s spending power once they become official (as early as tomorrow afternoon), as will this Williams accord. The latter will nevertheless be a welcomed addition is he can remain an impactful starter for years to come.

Giants To Host CB Darious Williams

After getting cut by the Jaguars earlier this week, veteran cornerback Darious Williams has lined up his first visit. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Williams is set to visit with the Giants tomorrow.

[RELATED: Jaguars To Release CB Darious Williams]

Williams wasn’t cut for his on-field production. With the Jaguars scrounging funds in order to retain their top free agents, the team was forced to move on from their cornerback. Williams’ release freed up a sizable $11.5MM of his $12MM cap hit for 2024, making the move a no-brainer for the Jaguars.

Considering his production, Williams is expected to be a popular name in free agency. The Alabama-Birmingham product finished last season with four interceptions, 19 pass deflections, and a pair of forced fumbles while limiting QBs to a passer rating of 63.9 when he was the closest defender. Pro Football Focus was also fond of his production, ranking him 13th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks.

The former UDFA started his career with the Ravens before catching on with the Rams. He eventually turned into a starter during his time in Los Angeles, and he parlayed that experience into a three-year, $30MM contract with the Jaguars in 2022. 2024 will mark Williams’ age-31 season, so he may be hard pressed to earn a similar number of years on his next contract. However, when considering his performance from this past season, he could match (or surpass) his AAV.

As Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News points out, cornerback was one of the Giants’ top needs heading into the offseason. With Adoree’ Jackson likely on his way out of New York, the team will need a starter opposite Deonte Banks. That’s led some to speculate that the Giants could look to fill that hole via the draft, although it sounds like they will first look towards free agency.

Of course, cornerback isn’t necessarily the team’s first (or even second) priority. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan writes, the Giants are willing to pay top-of-the-market value for a free agent guard, and they’re also eyeing reinforcement on the edge opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Jaguars To Release CB Darious Williams

In need of funds to retain two key pending free agents, the Jaguars are set to move on from Darious WilliamsJacksonville plans to release the veteran cornerback, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.

[RELATED: Jaguars Release Folorunso Fatukasi]

Williams has indeed been let go, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. He adds that teams have already begun showing interest, something which comes as little surprise given his level of play last season. The 30-year-old was set to count $12MM against the cap in 2024, but this move will yield major financial savings. Jacksonville will free up $11.5MM via his release.

A former Ravens UDFA, Williams established himself as a starter during his tenure with the Rams. That span – from 2018-21 – helped his free agent value and landed him a three-year Jags pact. That agreement included $18MM in guaranteed money, but only $500K of that total remained for 2024. Now, Williams will be on the move once again while Jacksonville will have extra cap room to keep edge rusher Josh Allen and wideout Calvin Ridley.

The team has made it clear the former will not reach the open market, meaning a franchise tag will be used later today if necessary. The latter, by contrast, is in the Jags’ plans for 2024 and beyond, but allowing him to test free agency will lower the trade compensation sent to the Falcons in the event a re-up emerges. Jacksonville will have roughly $45MM in cap space when taking the Williams release into account.

The Alabama-Birmingham product posted four interceptions, 19 pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles in 2023. That ball production will make him an enticing add for any number of teams, especially on a short-term deal. Williams remained strong in coverage last year, allowing a 55% completion percentage and an opposing passer rating of 63.9 as the nearest defender. While his age could turn away some suitors, he could be in line to land a new pact rather quickly.

Tyson Campbell has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and he will again be counted on as a full-time starter next season. Veterans Tre Herndon and Tevaughn Campbell are pending free agents, however, so the Jaguars could see considerable turnover at the cornerback position. The team recently took a flier on Amani Oruwariye via a futures deal, but further investment will be needed to replace Williams’ production.

AFC Rumors: White, Chaisson, Williams, Cannon

After tearing his ACL in late November last season, Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White is a candidate to begin the season on injured reserve, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. This differs slightly from earlier reports this year that White may be on track to start the 2022 NFL season healthy.

White was just halfway through the second year of his four-year, $69MM extension when he suffered the noncontact injury. His absence was a tough blow for the Bills who fell just short of their second-straight AFC Championship game appearance. With White on injured reserve for at least the first four weeks of the season, Buffalo will depend on rookie first-round pick Kaiir Elam. Elam will team up with returning corners Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, and Siran Neal to anchor a strong Buffalo secondary until White’s return.

Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC, starting with a couple of rumors from Duval County:

  • Despite his lofty status as one of the Jaguars’ first-round picks from the last couple of years, defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson‘s roster spot is anything but guaranteed, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. During his two years in Jacksonville, Chaisson has only started 11 games despite playing in all but two. In those two seasons of work, Chaisson only has 2.0 sacks, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits to his name. This leaves him in a precarious spot this offseason as he hopes to carve out his role on the Jaguars’ defensive line and prove his worth as the former No. 20 overall draft pick.
  • ESPN’s DiRocco also dove into Jacksonville’s cornerback room, positing that former Rams cornerback Darious Williams is expected to earn the starting spot at nickel for the Jaguars defense. With Tyson Campbell and Shaquill Griffin in place on the outside, Williams should have the inside track to start in the slot. Four-year Jaguars cornerback Tre Herndon has some experience on the inside, as well, and should provide some quality depth and competition for Williams, but Williams was brought in to play and will likely get the opportunity over Herndon to start the year.
  • Running back Trenton Cannon has bounced around a bit during his first four years in the league, spending time with the Jets, Panthers, Ravens, and 49ers. Cannon signed with the Titans in March and is expected to make the eventual 53-man roster due to his return abilities, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. On the running back depth chart for Tennessee, Cannon likely sits behind Derrick Henry, Dontrell Hilliard, and rookie Hassan Haskins, but he has extensive experience as a kick returner, serving as San Francisco’s primary return man down the stretch last season. With the Titans’ primary return man from last year, Chester Rogers, currently off the roster as a free agent, Cannon should be able to solidify a roster spot if he can prove his worth as a special teamer.

Jaguars To Sign Darious Williams

The Jaguars are set to sign free agent cornerback Darious Williams (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Once finalized, it’ll be a three-year deal worth $30MM with incentives that could push the overall value to $39MM. Williams also gets $18MM fully guaranteed, so more than half is already locked in.

Williams had a down year in 2021, thanks in part to an early season ankle injury. Before that, in 2020, Pro Football Focus graded Williams as its No. 4 overall corner as he set new personal watermarks in tackles (44), interceptions (four), and passes defended (14). Last offseason, the Rams let Troy Hill walk and prioritized Williams as a restricted free agent. He rewarded their confidence with four interceptions in 2020, but did not record an INT in 2021.

Now, the Rams will have to replace Williams while dealing with a cap crunch. He leaves Los Angeles with 130 tackles, six interceptions, and two fumble recoveries across 46 career appearances.

Williams’ camp tells RapSheet that he had more lucrative offers elsewhere. But, as a Florida native, he chose to take less money to return home.

Jets To Sign CB D.J. Reed

After bypassing a dire need at cornerback last year, the Jets are diving in early. They are signing D.J. Reed, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

Reed will come over from the Seahawks — on a three-year deal worth $33MM (including $21MM guaranteed, per Jordan Schultz on Twitter) — but has experience with Robert Saleh. The 49ers drafted Reed in the 2018 fifth round. He played two seasons in San Francisco, providing some system intel as he rejoins Saleh in New York.

A torn pectoral muscle sustained in early August 2020 led Reed from the Bay Area to the Pacific Northwest. The 49ers waived Reed with an injury designation, and the Seahawks claimed him. Reed elevated his profile in Seattle, starting 22 games over the past two seasons in a similar defensive system to the one Saleh deployed with the 49ers. The 5-foot-9 corner intercepted four passes during his Seahawks stay and allowed a career-low 67.8 passer rating when targeted last season.

The Seahawks hoped to re-sign Reed, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, but did not want to go to the $11MM-per-year level to do so. Gang Green also had Darious Williams and Donte Jackson on its radar, but Rich Cimini of ESPN.com adds Stephon Gilmore was not (Twitter link).

As of now, Reed stands to step in as the Jets’ No. 1 cornerback. They used Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols as their primary starters last season, one in which Saleh’s defense ranked 32nd in both points and yards allowed.

Latest On Rams’ Pending Free Agents

If the Rams hope to repeat as Super Bowl champions, they face a number of key decisions in the coming days. They have money still to be shed, but a number of free agents left to re-sign. 

The biggest names amongst said free agents are Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. The former made an impact on the Rams’ defense after being traded for mid-season. He registered five sacks in eight regular season games in L.A., adding another four in the playoffs. The 32-year-old earned himself a hefty payday, regardless of where he ends up.

According to Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic (subscription required), the Rams may be able to keep both in the fold. She writes that the team is “confident” their offer to Miller “will be enough to convince him to stay”. She adds that said proposal is thought to be worth between $14MM and $16MM per year over a span of “perhaps” two years, though that salary figure “doesn’t seem to have a hard ceiling”. The three-time All Pro has expressed an interest in staying, but he also plans to at least test the open market, which could very well include a return to Denver.

As for Beckham, Rodrigue notes that the team is staying flexible with respect to contract offers, though it does seem inevitable he will remain there, as was previously reported. She names center Brian Allen as one more significant pending free agent the Rams could try to find the money to retain.

On the other hand, there are noteworthy players who seemed destined to land deals elsewhere, in no small part as a result of the team’s preference to keep Miller and Beckham. Among those Rodrigue predicts will find new homes is defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day. The 26-year-old played a career-high 69% of snaps this year, notching three sacks. Another is cornerback Darious Williams, whom she reports could land a deal valued at upwards of $10MM per season despite a down year in 2021.

Projected to be more than $20MM over the cap at this point, the Rams clearly have work to do. If all goes according to plan, however, they could still field one of the most talented teams in the NFL next year.

Rams Place Jalen Ramsey, Tyler Higbee On COVID-19 List

The Rams have placed cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Dont’e Deayon , along with tight end Tyler Higbee on the COVID-19 reserve list, per a club announcement. As well, Robert Rochell has been placed on Injured Reserve. With that, all four players will be ineligible for tonight’s marquee matchup against the Cardinals. 

The Cardinals can effectively lock up the NFC West crown with a win tonight, leaving the Rams to jockey for Wild Card placement. If Arizona was to complete the season sweep of L.A., they would remain atop the NFC at 11-2, while the loss would drop the Rams to 8-5.

Ramsey’s absence is a huge loss for a secondary that will be facing a Cardinals attack which has recently gotten back to full strength with a healthy Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins. Ramsey has 59 tackles and three interception in 2021. Without him, Darious Williams will be forced into an even heavier workload, as will David Long Jr., as the Rams’ cornerback room is suddenly dangerously thin.

Offensively, the loss of Higbee will be felt in the Rams’ passing attack. He had produced 44 receptions for 395 yards and three touchdowns so far this year. Already without wide receiver Robert Woods for the remainder of 2021, even more snaps and targets will likely be coming the way of recently-acquired Odell Beckham Jr. along with sophomore Van Jefferson.

The Cardinals won the first matchup of the season, 37-20, in Week 4. Even more than initially thought, Beckham along with Von Miller – both of whom were acquired after that game – will be counted on for the Rams.

Rams Activate CB Darious Williams From IR

The Rams will have a key defender back in uniform Sunday night. They activated cornerback Darious Williams from IR on Saturday, doing so at their first opportunity.

Williams went down with an ankle injury during the Rams’ Week 5 win in Seattle, but he will be back in uniform for another nationally televised game this week. Los Angeles also bumped defensive back Antoine Brooks and defensive lineman Marquise Copeland from its practice squad.

This next stretch of games qualify as pivotal for Williams, who became the only 2021 restricted free agent to be given a first-round tender. Williams is playing on that $4.77MM RFA tender this season, and should he maintain the course he charted last season, a lucrative long-term deal stands to be in his future. Given the Rams’ pattern of acquiring and extending big stars and letting key role players walk, it is not a lock Williams stays in L.A. beyond this season. But the former UDFA does stand to help this year’s championship-contending squad alongside Jalen Ramsey.

Pro Football Focus graded Williams as its No. 4 overall corner last season. The Rams let Troy Hill walk and prioritized Williams as an RFA. Becoming a regular starter for the first time, Williams intercepted four passes last season. He does not have a pick yet this year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/21

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers