Even at age 36, cornerback Tramon Williams ranked as one of the NFL’s top slot defenders during the 2019 season.
Williams, who turned 37 in March, remains unsigned after spending the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
His work last season didn’t go unnoticed. Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire ranked Williams as the NFL’s eighth-best slot defender, noting his football intelligence and effectiveness in coverage from the slot during a highly effective year in Green Bay.
From Farrar: “Williams may not have the absolute recovery speed he once did, but he’s learned enough about the game in his 13 NFL seasons to decipher what’s coming from the opposing passing game, and he’s as smooth a route-runner as most receivers. This allows him to carry his targets from the first step through the end of the route, no matter what that route may be. That’s an incredibly valuable skill for any slot defender to have.”
Williams slotted in between Jaire Alexander and Kevin King and served as Mike Pettine’s go-to slot cornerback last season. He played all 16 games, intercepting two passes, breaking up six others and allowing just 33 catches into his primary coverage. Overall, quarterbacks had a passer rating under 80.0 when targeting Williams.
It’s now July, and the Packers still haven’t re-signed Williams, who had an expiring contract. In fact, no team has signed him, although the on-going coronavirus pandemic has likely played a role in keeping him unsigned.
The Packers may turn to a combination of Chandon Sullivan and safety Darnell Savage to defend the slot if Williams isn’t re-signed in 2020. Draft picks Josh Jackson and Ka’dar Hollman might also get opportunities.
Williams has stated a preference for returning to play for the Packers this season.