Green Bay Packers: Bringing back Tramon Williams makes sense
By Joe Kipp
Even in his old age, the Green Bay Packers would be wise re-signing Tramon Williams.
The old proverb “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” applies to the current situation surrounding the Green Bay Packers secondary. Veteran cornerback Tramon Williams, who’s spent 10 of his 13 NFL seasons with the Packers, remains a free agent after an impressive campaign in 2019.
Green Bay’s current depth at the cornerback position appears to be thin, which is just one of the reasons re-signing Williams makes sense. Williams, 37, has shown no indications of wanting to retire, and still has the ability to be an impact player at a key position.
The Packers have a budding star in Jaire Alexander, who’s proven to be the team’s best cover corner since being taken 18th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. In just two seasons, Alexander has recorded 28 pass breakups and three interceptions. His 17 pass breakups tied for the fourth-most among all defenders last season.
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Speaking of pass breakups, Williams has been a master at doing so over his 13-year career. In fact, Williams is the only player in Packers franchise history to record at least 100 pass breakups. The long-time cornerback has totaled 152 pass breakups in his career (eighth all-time), 125 of which have came as a member of the Packers.
Just because Williams is 37 doesn’t mean his career is over, either. In fact, he had one of his best years as a pro in 2019. Primarily manning the slot cornerback spot, Williams was a main fixture in Green Bay’s defense. He allowed just 35 receptions on 57 targets across 504 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Packers don’t have an immediate replacement at slot cornerback. Re-signing Williams to a short-term contract would buy Green Bay time to find a long-term replacement.
Even if not accounting for his high level of play, another reason the Packers should welcome back Williams is due to his presence in the locker room. As a 13-year veteran, Williams has served as a mentor for younger players and brings needed experience to the defense.
At the end of the 2019 regular season, Alexander praised Williams for being a role model heading into the playoffs. When asked about how he was preparing for Green Bay’s Divisional Round playoff game against Seattle, Alexander responded, “I definitely talk to Tramon, he’s been filling me in on how important these games are and the intensity [needed].”
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Williams has played a major role for the Packers for 10 seasons. Even in his old age, Williams has the potential to be a huge difference-maker for Green Bay’s defense, both on and off the field.