Tramon Williams remains unsigned, and Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst gave little in terms of clues about the team’s future plans for the veteran cornerback as training camp opens.
“I have great respect for Tramon and what he’s done here,” Gutekunst said Sunday during a Zoom call with reporters. “We’re very aware of where he is. No updates at this time. I have a lot of respect for Tramon and what he brings to the table.”
Maybe the lack of clues from Gutekunst is a sign, and the Packers are prepared to move on if the slot cornerback position sorts itself out during camp.
Williams, who turned 37 in March, played all 16 games for the Packers as Mike Pettine’s slot cornerback last season. He was effective, producing two interceptions and eight pass breakups while allowing a passer rating of just 79.3 on targets into his coverage. At Pro Football Focus, he posted an 82.2 grade in coverage over 504 snaps against the pass, marking one of the best seasons of his long career.
It’s possible the Packers want to see what they have in the slot before finally closing the book on Williams. Chandon Sullivan, who thrived as the No. 4 cornerback last season, might get the first shot, and others such as Josh Jackson, Ka’dar Hollman and Darnell Savage could all get opportunities to move inside and play the slot. The team didn’t draft a cornerback but added several undrafted free agents, including Florida State’s Stanford Samuels.
If the Packers don’t like what they see from the youngsters during camp, and Williams remains unsigned, he could be an ideal late-summer addition.
Williams has played 10 total seasons with the Packers, tallying 30 interceptions and 125 pass breakups while in Green Bay. He was a preferred starter nine of his first 10 seasons, and made the Pro Bowl in 2010, the same year the Packers won the Super Bowl.
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