Having a young cornerback come of age is easily one of the more exciting things to have happen in the NFL for a general manager and coaching staff, and fortunately for Green Bay, that’s exactly what’s happening this year, with former undrafted rookie Tramon Williams.
So far this season, Williams has given up just one passing play over 20 yards and zero touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. Obviously, the year is far from complete, but if he holds true to form, Williams will finish the 2010 campaign as one of a handful of players around the league that can legitmately claim to be a shutdown corner.
With success comes a significant payday though, and Green Bay’s front office is doing everything they can right now to keep Williams off the open market. According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Packers have offered Williams a significant contract extension that would pay a higher average salary than the $5.4 million made by fellow cornerback Al Harris, but less than the $9.73 million that All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson is currently making.
Such a deal would give Williams guaranteed money in the neighborhood of $10 million to $12 million range, but as of right now, Williams may be better served to wait out the process, forcing the Packers to up the ante or risk losing him to another team via free agency in 2011. As one of the league’s premier players at his position, Williams would be able to command a major contract close to the deal signed by New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis this past off-season.
While there’s definitely something to be said for having stability with a long term deal, Williams is content for the time being with focusing on improving his play on the field more than he has already, and letting the powers that be in Green Bay fret over how much money they’ll need to keep him on their side after the season is complete.
In the end, he’ll thank himself for doing so, as a major payday will be his reward.
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Written by Chris Kolb
Topics: Green Bay Packers