Latest news with #GarrettWilliams
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cardinals training camp: CB Garrett Williams getting work outside
Garrett Williams could become an every-down player with the injury to Star Thomas. The season-ending injury to cornerback Star Thomas V brought a new and exciting wrinkle to the Arizona Cardinals' defense in training camp on Sunday. We might get to see even more from Garrett Williams in 2025, who became one of the better slot cornerbacks in the league last year. With Thomas on injured reserve, Williams is now getting work outside. Williams has played almost exclusively in the slot in the season and a half he has played (he missed the first half of his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in his final season at Syracuse), but many have wondered if he could also play and succeed on the outside. If Sunday's practice is a preview of what the regular season will be, Williams will be an every-down player and will play both inside and out. Could this be similar to what happened with Byron Muprhy? Murphy was used almost exclusively as the Cardinals' nickel corner, but injuries forced him to play more outside, where he has flourished. Playing Williams in base downs would give the defense a little more experience on the field. Otherwise, it would be Max Melton, who played less than 600 snaps as a rookie last season, and rookie Will Johnson in base downs. It will be something to watch as training camp continues and the preseason begins. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cardinals training camp: Cornerback battle is one to watch
Garrett Williams has the slot managed. The Cardinals have three corners for the two boundary jobs. The Arizona Cardinals have a number of notable position battles as they have begun training camp. Some battles are for starting jobs, while others are for key reserve spots. A pair of positions believed to have key battles — right guard and "Mike" linebacker — seem to be set with new starters. Others, though, have intrigue. Cardinals training camp position battle: Cornerback Even with the season-ending offseason knee injury to Sean Murphy-Bunting, the Cardinals have plenty of competition for the starting jobs. For three jobs (two boundary corners and one in the slot), they have four contenders. Last year, they used four players. Murphy-Bunting, Star Thomas and 2024 second-round pick Max Melton split time as the two boundary corners while Garrett Williams played in the slot. They drafted Will Johnson in the second round this year, so once again they have three boundary guys for two spots, while Williams will continue to play in the slot. Will they rotate the three guys? Last year, the rookie (Melton) played the least but still logged 565 snaps. Johnson was considered a first-round talent. Can he and Melton play will enough to push Thomas into a lesser role? It will be a competition to watch for sure. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: CB Garrett Williams
We will preview every player on the Cardinals roster leading up to training camp. This is about CB Garrett Williams. The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. Next up is cornerback Garrett Williams. Garrett Williams background, 2024 season A third-round pick in 2023, Williams got a late start to that season as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered the previous year at Syracuse. Playing 16 games in the slot or on the outside last season, he started 11 games and participated in 781 (76 percent) defensive snaps and added another 10 snaps on special teams. Williams was fifth on the team with 58 tackles (40 solo) and was second on the team with two interceptions. He also totaled nine passes defensed and forced one fumble. Garrett Williams 2025 contract details, cap hit Entering the third season of his rookie four-year contract, Williams has a base salary of $1.262 million and a salary-cap charge of $1.539 million. He will be eligible to sign a contract extension during the next offseason. 2025 questions, roster outlook Two years removed from his torn ACL, Williams is primed for an excellent season no matter where he is deployed in the Cardinals defense. A passionate student of the game, the only question is to what level he will ascend. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals Year 2 player outlook: CB Max Melton
The Arizona Cardinals drafted 12 players in 2024. Some of them had contributions as rookies. Some will have greater roles in 2025. Others will have to battle for the roster. They selected cornerback Max Melton in the second round. Advertisement Entering Year 2 in the NFL, let's have a look at his 2025 outlook. CB Max Melton's 2024 season Melton played a lot but was not a starter. He played in all 17 games but was basically the Cardinals' fourth cornerback, using him in a three-man rotation on the boundary with Sean Murphy-Bunting and Star Thomas. He started three times. He had 51 total tackles, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in 565 defensive snaps. Max Melton's Year 2 outlook in 2025 Murphy-Bunting injured his knee in the offseason and is out for the year, so it would seem that Melton would slide into a starting role, playing opposite Thomas with Garrett Williams in the slot. But the Cardinals added Will Johnson in the second round of this year's draft, a player with elite talent, so Melton might be in the same boat last year. Advertisement At minimum, he will be in the rotation as the third boundary corner, playing as much as he did last season. At best, he will move into a full-time starting role, being the player on the field the most of the trio of him, Johnson and Thomas. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: What to expect from Cardinals DL Darius Robinson in Year 2
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Garrett Williams is only Arizona Cardinals CB in top 32 per PFF
Garrett Williams is only Arizona Cardinals CB in top 32 per PFF Williams ranks 22 in PFF's top 32 CBs entering 2025. The Arizona Cardinals have a young group of cornerbacks. Of the four top players on their roster, Star Thomas and Garrett Williams enter their third NFL seasons, Max Melton enters his second and Will Johnson, selected in the second round in April, is a rookie. As such, they haven't proven much in the league, except for one. PFF ranked the top 32 cornerbacks in the NFL and Williams makes the cut, coming in at No. 22. After struggling in his rookie season and missing more than half the year, resulting in a 57.2 PFF coverage grade, Williams was excellent in 2024 with an 83.7 PFF coverage grade (fourth best) and the seventh-best PFF advanced coverage grade. If he's able to replicate his sophomore campaign in which he allowed 0.68 yards and the second-fewest yards in coverage, Williams could jump into the top 10. If Williams continues to play at the level he did last season, if Melton takes a second-year leap and if Johnson is as good as many believe he can be, the Cardinals' secondary will be very, very good in 2025. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
