Green Bay Packers face toughest choice with Tramon Williams

The Green Bay Packers enter the 2015 free agency period with a larger and more talented class of internal free agents than usual, which will bring about a string of connected decisions over the next month.

Some of these decisions, such as re-signing Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga, rely solely on dollars and cents as the Green Bay Packers would love to retain both. With Tramon Williams, however, the Packers face their toughest decision.

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Williams will be 32 when next season begins, so Ted Thompson needs to make this work financially only if he believes that the player can still be valuable for the entirety of a contract. Thompson has made his mistakes with ageing players like all general managers have, but he prefers that they break down elsewhere after giving the prime of their careers to the Packers. Williams has just completed a four-year, $33 million contact signed in 2010 that paid him $9.5 million this past season.

It seems that the odds have forever been stacked against Williams. This article from Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel details the 150-pound Williams in High School, who despite the hoards of college recruiters swarming around his teammate Brandon Jacobs, did not receive a single scholarship offer. As a walk-on at Louisiana Tech, Williams shone and grew mostly into the 5’11”, 185-pound frame that he plays with today but would still go undrafted in 2006.

The Houston Texans took a shot on Williams as an undrafted free agent but released him towards the end of camp. This begun a whirlwind of nine professional tryouts and even one Arena League tryout before landing on his feet with the Packers, where he has appeared in 127 games over seven seasons. “I knew that somebody can’t tell me, I can’t do something,” Williams told Dunne. “Most guys just give up. That’s not in my bloodline.”

Dec 14, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods (10) is unable to make a catch defended by Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams (38) during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Now entering the twilight of his career, Williams is quick to point to Charles Woodson, who won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award as his teammate in Green Bay at age 33. Williams has spoken with Woodson about not just maintaining success late into his career, but improving. He insists that the growth in his football I.Q. will far outweigh any physical regression he faces, and believes that he can, and should, continue to be the leader of the Green Bay secondary.

“I can offer them a leader,” Williams said. “I can offer them dependability, a guy who if you want to know if he’s coming to play or if he’s available for a game, I will be….I bring a lot to the table as far as the way I play the game, the way I adjust to the game. The versatility. I can play inside. I can play outside. On certain plays, I could play safety.”

With nearly $30 million in salary cap space now following the release of linebacker Brad Jones, the Packers must begin to creatively re-build a roster that was on the cusp of a Super Bowl appearance in 2014. In regards to Williams, the Packers decision will also be impacted largely by the team’s opinion on Casey Hayward and free agent Davon House.

Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House (31) breaks up the pass intended for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The big-bodied, talented House has appeared in 40 games since joining the Packers in 2011 – starting 14 contests. He has the tools necessary to start in this league and could project as a top corner, covering physical receivers such as Brandon Marshall or Julio Jones. The issue with House is his health, though, which has left the Packers with a limited sample size. One team will pay House for his potential, not his resume up to this point, and that could price the Packers out of the bidding.

Hayward, on the other hand, has quieted since flashing All Pro potential in his 2012 rookie season, where he recorded six interceptions and 21 passes defended playing mostly from the nickel. He again flashed glimpses of this in 2014, but is his game consistent enough to match up against top receivers, or is he best used on the inside full time? Another question that must be answered before Ted Thompson picks up the phone to call Tramon Williams.

Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers greets cornerback Sam Shields (37) during warmups prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Williams has become one of the league’s more underrated cornerbacks, in my opinion, and his abilities outside allow Dom Capers some freedom throughout the heart of his defensive front and secondary. In his Packers career, Williams has posted 28 interceptions with 114 passes defended. He’s stepped up in the playoffs with four interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 13 postseason games.

Retaining both Williams and House seems unlikely, and would be an illogical allocation of resources given their other commitments. I see there being two choices here. First, the Packers could allow Williams to walk and push to re-sign House, possibly adding a depth corner later in the draft. If not that, then the Packers could allow House to walk, and push to re-sign Williams. In doing this, the team would then likely target a cornerback in the first three rounds to step in when Williams finally does depart in one or two years.

There are premium positions in the NFL, and free agent contracts show this. Cornerback is a position that few teams are ever satisfied at and despite his age, Williams has shown that he can still play at a very high level. A two-year contract for Williams would make me comfortable, even if the salary is a touch richer than expected. Once Williams pushes for a third year, though, or seeks a contract that is heavy on guaranteed money, Green Bay would be wise to back away, and be thankful that his best years were played on Lambeau Field.

Next: Packers top 5 needs in 2015 NFL Draft

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