K'Waun Williams Signs with San Francisco 49ers

Defensive back K'Waun Williams didn't play during the 2016 season and will attempt his comeback with the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Wednesday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Tuesday the 49ers inked Williams to a one-year deal and "had their eye on him for a while."

Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal also reported on the deal and noted it was for "a little more than $1 million, including incentives."

According to Darryl Slater of NJ.com, the New York Jets—along with three other unidentified teams—offered Williams a contract before he signed with San Francisco.

Williams joined the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014, and Nick Shook of NFL.com said he beat out first-round pick Justin Gilbert. He was largely a nickel corner given his size (5'9") and played in 13 games in each of his first two seasons, forcing three fumbles and recovering two in 2015 and tallying 10 passes defended and 77 combined tackles in the two years, per ESPN.com.

Lack of production was not the reason he missed the 2016 campaign.

Shook noted Williams suffered an ankle injury during training camp in 2016 and elected not to play a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers because of it. However, the Browns suspended him for two games, calling his behavior "conduct detrimental to the team."

A second medical opinion revealed Williams needed surgery to remove bone spurs, but the Browns still released him shortly after the suspension. Slater noted the Chicago Bears then signed Williams but waived him after he failed a physical.

Per Shook, the defensive back filed a grievance against the Browns to recover his 2016 salary, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported it will be heard May 16.

On the field, Williams will look to provide a boost to a 49ers defense that finished dead last in the league in points allowed per game (30) in 2016 on the way to a 2-14 record. San Francisco defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley was the Browns secondary coach in 2014 and 2015 when Williams was with the team.