The Los Angeles Rams brought back a familiar face this offseason, signing cornerback Darious Williams in free agency to a lucrative three-year, $22.5 million contract. Williams was a key contributor on the team that won Super Bowl LVI, and the Rams are hoping his presence delivers a similar result for their 2024 team.
Williams' presence is such a boon for the Rams that Touchdown Wire's Doug Farrar named him the Rams' most-underrated player.
"The Ravens were the first team to display an interest in UAB cornerback Darious Williams, signing the undrafted free agent to a contract in 2018, and then waiving him when Jimmy Smith returned from a four-game suspension. The Rams picked Williams up on waivers, and over the next four seasons, Williams worked his way up from roster afterthought to top-tier defender. In 2022, the Jaguars stole him away with a three-year, $30 million contract, but released him from that contract in March. That’s when the Rams came charging back in, signing Williams to a three-year, $22.5 million contract.
Williams is built like a slot-only cornerback at 5-foot-9 and 187 pounds, but he’s been a great outside cornerback for years, and that was just as true in 2023, when he allowed 51 catches on 86 targets for 613 yards, 178 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, four interceptions, 18 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 69.6. Through his NFL career, Williams has allowed 10 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, and has a lifetime opponent passer rating of 76.7. It’s safe to say that nobody expected that when he came out of college."
Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula already broke down Williams's film and what they expect out of him in 2024. His presence gives a dependable vet for what the Rams will want to run defensively and will be a mentor to the younger corners already on the Rams' roster.
