Pros and Cons of Lions Signing CB Darious Williams
The Detroit Lions have quickly elevated from the bottom to the top of the NFC North division.
After Dan Campbell's team went 3-13-1 in his first season, he quickly revived the organization by leading the team to consecutive winning seasons. In 2023, the Lions were on the cusp of a Super Bowl berth before falling in the NFC Championship game.
Now, the team has the resources to add the necessary talent to make a push for the Super Bowl once again in 2024. One area where the team stands to upgrade is at the cornerback position.
A potential solution for the team came available ahead of the start of free agency, as the Jacksonville Jaguars released cornerback Darious Williams on Tuesday.
Williams is a predominately outside corner who has emerged as a physical defender and a ball-hawk since entering the league in 2018. He has a connection to the organization and seems to fit with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's style.
A veteran, Williams has had plenty of success as of late. He was Jacksonville's second-highest graded defender by Pro Football Focus last year behind only defensive end Josh Allen. He had four interceptions last year along with a total of 19 passes defensed.
The UAB product has 10 career interceptions, showcasing an ability to generate takeaways that is highly coveted by the Lions.
His physicality didn't grade out well in 2023, though. He finished the season with a PFF run-defense grade of just 29.9 and a tackling grade of 58.0. These are not ideal marks for a defense that covets an ability to be a constant presence in the run game.
However, Williams has put forth better marks in the past and his performance suggests that he can improve this number.
His ability to cover opposing wideouts is a skill that the Lions could drastically benefit from adding. On passes thrown his way in 2023, Williams allowed an opposing passer rating of 69.6.
Williams also can be an instant upgrade, as he played the last two seasons for new cornerbacks coach Deshea Townsend in Jacksonville. With this familiarity, he has an understanding of Townsend's verbiage and can get up to speed quickly.
Detroit's secondary may undergo an overhaul this offseason, as Cam Sutton is the lone major contributor at cornerback that remains under contract. The organization elected not to offer restricted free agent Jerry Jacobs or exclusive rights free agent Khalil Dorsey, and Kindle Vildor is an unrestricted free agent.
By bringing in a player like Williams, Detroit could add experienced talent capable of making an instant impact.
Williams is a talented option that could help the organization push toward its ultimate goals. After struggling against the pass in 2023, the Lions badly need upgrades at cornerback as they contend with some of the NFC North's top receiving options.
In order for Glenn's defense to improve, adding a talented cornerback will be one of the biggest factors. If Detroit nails an acquisition of this caliber, it will be viewed as one of the top challengers for next year's Lombardi Trophy.
