In the 2013 offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to sign Cary Williams to a three-year, $17.5 million deal with $10.5 million in guaranteed money, and that was a significant contract, especially considering that Williams hit the free agent market with a bunch of other talented CBs. Williams wasn’t as good as most of those corners, but he earned his pay on the strength of a Super Bowl-winning season, as well as some nice stats in the form of four interceptions and 17 passes defended. But despite his playmaking ability, Williams gave up an awful lot of catches in coverage and showed a lack of discipline on the field.
FanSided
Williams finished his first season in Philadelphia with 12 PDs, 67 tackles, and three INTs, but he missed 13 tackles and had a very inconsistent season in coverage. According to the Pro Football Focus, Williams allowed just 59.3% of all throws in his coverage to be completed, but he had a negative grade despite allowing a decent 80.9 QB Rating to opposing quarterbacks.
While I’ve been incredibly critical of Williams, who once randomly fought with a rookie receiver in training camp to send a message, n in the past, he’s a decent No. 2 corner in this league despite his inconsistent play. I mean, he makes plays on the ball, and he clearly has talent. But at the same time, he isn’t a great player, even if he says he is.
According to CSN Philly’s Geoff Mosher, Williams stated that there’s “no question” he’s one of the great corners in this league. He said, “I’ve started and haven’t given up a touchdown in any of those playoff games. And my name is never brought up because maybe I’m a seventh-rounder or whatever the case may be. I don’t know what it is. It is what it is, because my statistics definitely show I can play this game.
He also pointed to his play in the playoffs and ability to rise to the occasion in big moments, though it should be noted that Richard Sherman and Darrelle Revis have also had playoff success. These comments about Williams’s own skill came after he was asked questions about the top cornerbacks in the league. Williams has a chip on his shoulder and has outperformed his expectations when coming into the league, but he’s not a great corner. He was a mediocre player with the Baltimore Ravens, and he isn’t even a true No. 1 CB on the Eagles. He’s an above-average CB who is aggressive in the running game and can hold up when targeted, but his ability to make plays on the ball doesn’t overcome the fact that he doesn’t have true lockdown skills. I love when players stand up for themselves, but there’s a reason why Williams isn’t mentioned as a top CB.