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Tramon Williams' longtime tenure in Green Bay with the Packers is over. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Williams has agreed in principle to a new contract with the Cleveland Browns:
Former Packers CB Tramon Williams has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2015
The 31-year-old cornerback hit free agency this offseason after his eighth season in the NFL, all of them in Green Bay. Per reports, Williams visited the New Orleans Saints this week as part of his free agency tour, but left his hometown state without a deal. Williams was the top cornerback remaining on the market and turned 32 today.
Williams is reportedly getting a stunning $21 million on this deal, reports Ian Rapoport, a number that balances out to $7 million per year. The Packers reportedly had offered Williams a two-year deal earlier in the free agency period, worth around $4 million per season. Signs pointed to the Packers not being willing to offer Williams a third year, so between that extra security and the significantly higher dollar value, it should be no surprise to see him depart.
During his career with the Packers, Williams established himself as one of the most reliable and durable starters for the franchise after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent from Louisiana Tech back in 2006. Williams has played in all 16 regular season games in seven of his eight years as a pro, and missed only one regular season game in his entire career during the 2011 season because of a shoulder injury. Out of 140 possible games (including playoffs), he started 110 of them. In 2010, Williams picked off a career-high six passes during his only Pro Bowl season.
After the departure of Williams and Davon House, the Packers are now a lot thinner at the cornerback position. The team can either sign a replacement or draft one in this year's NFL Draft, although going the draft route seems more likely. The backs that are currently on the roster who can play the position are starter Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Demetri Goodson, Micah Hyde and Tay Glover-Wright. Special-teams specialist Jarrett Bush is also a free agent, and his future with the team remains unclear.