Free-agent cornerback Darious Williams is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams, as reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Originally undrafted in 2018, Williams began his career with the Baltimore Ravens before being released and claimed off waivers by the Rams. He spent three seasons in L.A., where he logged 130 tackles and six interceptions. He joined the Jaguars in 2022 and played in all 34 of their regular season games since, posting 106 tackles, four interceptions, and 35 passes defended. He's now back with Sean McVay under new defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
The Jacksonville Jaguars released cornerback Darious Williams on Tuesday, according to a source. The move to release Williams creates $11.5 million in salary cap space this year as the team works through other in-house negotiations in the offseason. Cutting the 30-year-old leaves a mere $500,000 in dead-cap space for 2024. Williams didn't play terribly last season, recording 53 tackles (44 solo), a career-high-tying four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 19 passes defensed and two forced fumbles in 17 starts, but the Jaguars have other needs. He should draw plenty of interest on the open market and has 236 career tackles (190 solo), 10 interceptions, 62 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his six years in the NFL.
The Athletic's Jeff Howe writes that if the Jacksonville Jaguars need to make a big move to create salary cap space this offseason, they could release defensive back Darious Williams to save $11 million against the cap. Williams turns 31 next month and faded down the stretch last year. He's also entering the final year of his deal in 2024. Head coach Doug Pederson fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and replaced him with Ryan Nielsen, so more change on the defensive front is likely. Williams isn't a bad player, but the Jaguars need to make sure they do everything possible to re-sign edge rusher Josh Allen while also getting their books right in preparation for quarterback Trevor Lawrence's extension. In his second year with the Jags in 2023, Williams had 53 tackles (44 solo), four interceptions (one for a TD), 19 passes defensed and a forced fumble in 17 starts.
Former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams is expected to finalize a three-year, $39 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to a source. Williams, 29, should be a huge boost to Jacksonville's suspect secondary. Williams is a much better real-life player than a fantasy one, although he did have a career-high 71 tackles (60 solo), three tackles for loss, nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery in 14 games (13 starts) for the Rams last year. The Alabama-Birmingham product has started 26 of his 46 career games over four NFL seasons and he has six total interceptions and 130 total tackles (111 solo) over that span.
Rams Extend First-Round Tender To Darious Williams
The Los Angeles Rams extended a first-round tender on standout impending restricted free-agent cornerback Darious Williams on Monday, according to a source. Williams is one of the team's rising stars after he recorded four interceptions, 44 tackles and 14 passes defended in 16 games during the regular season last year. If Williams accepts the offer, he'll make $4.766 million in 2021. The 28-year-old was an undrafted free agent out of Alabama-Birmingham but is now firmly part of the team's plans moving forward after he impressed last season. He spent his rookie season with the Ravens and the Rams in 2018 before seeing action in 12 games (three starts) and recording 15 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2019. Williams has six career interceptions in just 32 games played.
