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Cary Williams to Seahawks: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction
March 10, 2015
The Seattle Seahawks have found a new starter to add to their Legion of Boom secondary in free-agent cornerback Cary Williams.
Continue for updates.
Seahawks Confirm Williams Signing
Tuesday, March 10
Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com provided details on the Seahawks' signing of Williams:
"In what turned out to be a swap of starting cornerbacks, the Seahawks signed former Eagle Cary Williams on Tuesday while Byron Maxwell jumped to Philadelphia in free agency."
Maxwell was Seattle's starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman last year.
Williams Chooses Seattle Over Multiple Interested Teams
Monday, March 9
Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 reported that Williams would sign with Seattle, choosing the reigning NFC champions over multiple other suitors, while Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun provided the financial breakdown of his contract:
Wilson also reported that the Seahawks won out over Baltimore, Tennessee and the New York Jets, who were all in the running for Williams' services.
Williams started his career with the Titans before starring with the Ravens and carving out a solid NFL career. The 30-year-old veteran won a Super Bowl during his final year in Baltimore before playing in Philadelphia for the past two seasons.
Bleacher Report's Ty Schalter weighed in on the CB swap between two of the league's most visible franchises:
The above numbers suggest Williams, while older, isn't a downgrade from Maxwell in coverage. It will also help to have Sherman basically locking down one half of the field and Pro Bowl safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor holding their own on the back end.
Much of Seattle's success is predicated on physical, bump-and-run coverage whether the defense is aligned in strict man-to-man or Cover 3. At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Williams has the length to jam receivers at the line and has the talent around him to gamble a bit more often if he so desires.
Based on how exceptional Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor are, no matter who's in the other cornerback spot, the Seahawks ought to be fine.
The fact that Williams has championship experience with a winning organization and still has several years of productive football ahead makes this a savvy open-market signing by general manager John Schneider.
Instead of breaking the bank for Maxwell, Seattle addresses an area of need with a proven player in Williams. This frees up room to focus on upcoming deals for the likes of quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner.