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Former Packers CB Tramon Williams has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2015
The #Browns are signing CB Tramon Williams to a 3-year worth $21M, source said. It’s his 32nd birthday
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2015
Happy birthday and welcome to Cleveland, Tramon!
This is the first free agent signing this offseason of a player not cut by his former team. There goes a compensatory pick. Personally, I'd rather have Tramon Williams.
Williams just turned 32 today. Last year he graded out at +1.6 according to Pro Football Focus. 2015 will be his tenth season in the NFL. Below are his stats from the past three seasons (in which he started all 16 games each season) and his career totals:
G GS Tak Sack PD INT
16 16 70 0.0 13 3
16 16 83 2.5 11 3
16 16 61 0.0 16 2
career: 464 4.5 115 28
I've always liked Williams' game. All hinges on whether he holds up with age. Browns can likely get out of deal in a year if necessary
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 16, 2015
Jeremy Fowler has the right idea here, Browns likely padded the deal with a big roster bonus for next offseason so they can cut bait and let him go if he has nothing left in the tank.
This remains to be seen. Based on raw numbers alone, Tramon Williams is making more per year than Buster Skrine got from the Jets. The details of the contract may show that this is really a 1-year deal for big money with no guarantees beyond 2015. Williams is not as quick and explosive of a player as Skrine, but he fares much better against bigger receivers, Skrine's Achilles' Heel.
Williams may serve as a starter this year opposite Haden while the younger guys at the position develop. It's also possible that Gilbert or Desir could win the job over him. Williams also has some experience in the slot, adding depth to that position as well. Either way, he adds stability to a cornerback group full of young talent but not without its question marks.
Tramon Williams to @Browns website: "I see where these guys are going and I think I can help them go to where they want to go."
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) March 16, 2015