Former Chiefs RB Darrel Williams Agrees to 1-Year Contract with Cardinals

Running back Darrel Williams has found a new home.

The Arizona Cardinals announced on Tuesday that they signed Williams to a one-year deal. The fifth-year veteran had spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

To make room on the roster for Williams, the Cardinals released running back Jaylen Samuels.

After Chiefs starting running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was forced to miss seven games last season due to injury, Williams finished as Kansas City's leading rusher in an offense centered around star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the passing attack. Williams posted career-highs of 144 carries for 558 yards and six touchdowns and 47 receptions for 452 yards and two more scores.

Williams fits a major need for Arizona as a backup behind starter James Conner, especially after the offseason departure of free agent Chase Edmonds. The only other running backs on the Cardinals roster are Eno Benjamin and Keaontay Ingram. Benjamin saw limited action last season, and Ingram was selected in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft.

Conner is coming off a stellar 2021 season in which he earned his second career trip to the Pro Bowl. In his first year with Arizona, he ran for 752 yards on 202 carries and tied for second in the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns. The 27-year-old was rewarded with a three-year contract extension in March.

The Cardinals went 11-6 last season and finished second in the NFC West. Arizona's season came to an end with a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round.