Cornerback Darious Williams, one of the new stars of the Rams’ defense, is likely to stay put next season after the team tendered a contract to the restricted free agent Monday.
It was the Rams’ first move on the first day NFL teams can negotiate with agents for free-agent players, before signings can be made official starting Wednesday.
Williams, who turned 28 Monday, had a career-high four interceptions in 2020, returning one for a touchdown in the Rams’ playoff victory over the Seahawks.
He held opponents to 54.2% completions and a 61.1 passer rating on passes thrown to receivers he was covering. Williams and fellow cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill helped the Rams to allow a league lows in passing yards, overall yards and points. Hill is an unrestricted free agent.
The Rams said they extended a first-round tender for the league-prescribed $4.766 million for one season. Williams can still field other offers, but the Rams can match any competing offer, and any team signing him away would have to give L.A. a first-round draft pick.
The Rams went into the NFL’s free-agency week with a formidable to-do list.
Farthest over the salary cap of any team, the Rams must shed more than $33 million in 2021 payroll to get under the $182.5 million cap by Wednesday. General manager Les Snead said last week they intended do that by restructuring long-term contracts instead of by releasing players.
Their list of 12 unrestricted free agents is led by outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and safety John Johnson.
They’re unlikely to hold onto all or even most of their free agents on defense, but the move to keep Williams is one they can afford.
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