Former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams took a bit of a pay cut to sign with his hometown team in the Jacksonville Jaguars. He signed a three-year, $39-million deal to return to Duval county.
With the first few days of free agency behind us, ESPN has graded each team’s new signees, and Jacksonville received an A- for the addition of Williams. Here is what Dan Graziano had to say:
The day after his 28th birthday, Jacksonville native Williams agrees to sign with his hometown team on a nice-looking deal from both sides. Williams gets $20 million over the first two years, and $18 million of it is fully guaranteed. It’s bit of a bargain deal compared with the ones J.C. Jackson got from the Chargers and Carlton Davis earned from the Bucs, but Williams is a good-tackling cornerback who lands in a division where teams like to lean on the run.
Williams should be a good fit for the Jags’ defense at a good price. He’s not the biggest name in the Jaguars’ free-agent haul, but he’s a better player than you think he is, he just won a Super Bowl and he’ll be an all-around helper for the defense. — Graziano
It’s a solid addition for Jacksonville even though it only needed a nickel cornerback for its defense. Williams spent most of the last three seasons playing outside with the Rams where he racked up six interceptions, 27 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, 130 tackles, and five tackles for loss.
With a cornerback room of Shaquill Griffin, Tyson Campbell, and Williams, it will be interesting to see who the Jaguars peg to play nickel.
