K'Waun

Williams

Williams didn’t play a snap of regular-season football in 2023 after an ankle injury that sidelined him in training camp ultimately required surgery to correct. Now, the soon-to-be 33-year-old vet is cleared and looking to return to the field. Williams started in eight of the 14 games he appeared in for the Broncos in 2022, totaling 44 tackles and one interception while breaking up seven passes. According to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson, Williams has spoken with teams, but will likely wait until after the NFL Draft to decide on where to sign.

Williams, who opened the year on IR, will undergo a second surgery next week. The Broncos expect a three month recovery, knocking Williams out for the year but setting him up for a full offseason. Williams, a 2024 free agent, is unlikely to be back with the Broncos.

As Klis points out, whether Williams will go on short- or long-term injured reserve after his surgery is unknown. Williams played in 14 games for the Broncos last season, totaling 44 tackles and one interception in his first year with the team. Williams has played primarily as a slot corner since entering the league in 2014 and was expected to be a key contributor for the team again this season.

It doesn’t appear the Broncos will place Williams on injured reserve, but he’s expected to miss “at least four weeks” per Broncos beat writer Mike Kliss. Williams is undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to “clean up loose bodies that is causing his knee to lock up.” A key member of Denver’s secondary, Williams has played on 420 defensive snaps for the Broncos per PFF, earning a pass coverage grade of 69.9.

Williams was mentioned by Nathaniel Hackett as someone who is undergoing further evaluation. He had one tackle, one pass defensed, and one quarterback hit before leaving. Williams had a 70.9 PFF coverage grade in eight starts before today and is a key member of Denver’s secondary.

Williams reportedly pulled up in coverage after Russell Wilson targeted wide receiver Montrell Washington deep downfield. Trainers addressed Williams soon after the play ended before he walked off the field and did not return. Williams was signed to a two-year, $7 million contract this offseason and is expected to serve as the team’s slot corner.

The Broncos have a strong duo Ronald Darby and Pat Surtain as their starting outside corners. However, the team didn’t have a starting-caliber player to man the slot until this signing. Essang Bassey was their only option before Williams joined the roster. Denver cut Bassey last year but claimed him after the Chargers signed and cut him in the span of less than a month. Williams will immediately step in as the team’s top slot corner. He was credited with four pass defenses and one interception while playing 535 slot snaps in 2021.

Williams, 29, returns to the Niners after a brief flirtation with the Chiefs. Primarily a slot corner in San Francisco, Williams allowed 16 receptions on 24 targets in eight games last year. He’ll play a fifth season in a 49ers secondary graded by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s third best coverage unit in 2020.

The Jets were previously to be reported to be interested in Williams as well. Williams was plagued by injuries in 2020 but still showed off some of his play-making abilities when healthy. He logged two sacks and a forced fumble to go along with his four pass defenses in eight games played. The 49ers never made him a full-time player in his four-year tenure with the team but he did peak at two interceptions in 2019. His role was primarily as a slot corner in San Francisco. A high-end role player, Williams would be a great fit for a contending team like the Chiefs if his services can be had for a reasonable price.

49ers CB Emmanuel Mosely is also questionable after a full week of limited practices. The 49ers are out of the playoff hunt, so this only matters for Seattle’s playoff seeding. Both Williams and Sherman are free agents in 2021. San Francisco will have to address their secondary this offseason.