HEADLINES

Connor Williams

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/24

November 16th, 2024 at 8:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturday’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Toney is set to make his debut for the regular season. The former first-round pick out of Florida has had a rocky first four years in the league, despite coming away with two Super Bowl rings in Kansas City. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad just after the season opener and will be eligible to see game action with Cleveland in Week 11.

O’Donnell was added to the 49ers’ practice squad earlier this week given the chance of Mitch Wishnowsky missing time. The latter is now on injured reserve, ensuring at least a four-game absence. O’Donnell, 32, is a veteran of 145 games but Week 11 will mark his first regular season action since 2022.

Seahawks C Connor Williams Retires

November 15th, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Seahawks center Connor Williams is retiring, as announced by head coach Mike Macdonald in a press conference Friday, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.

Williams tore his ACL last December, tanking his free agency stock with his availability to start the 2024 season in question. He managed to pass a physical and sign with the Seahawks eight months later and started all nine of the team’s games at center this season.

Macdonald cited “personal reasons” as the explanation for Williams’ retirement and said that his knee injury in 2023 was not a factor in the decision, according to Condotta. The first-year head coach doesn’t believe that Williams will change his mind and return to the Seahawks this year.

Williams finishes his career with 86 starts and 92 total appearances across a seven-year career. He began as a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2018 and quickly earned the starting left guard job in Dallas.

He hit free agency in 2022 and signed with the Dolphins on a two-year deal worth just over $14MM. He started all 17 games at center for Miami in 2022, but struggled with multiple injuries in 2023 before ultimately tearing his ACL in December. Williams’ return to the field this year was viewed as impressive given the extent of his knee injury, but he opted to retire rather than finish the season. He ends his career with $22.3MM in career earnings, per OverTheCap.

Seattle will turn to Olu Oluwatimi at center moving forward. The 2023 fifth-rounder started one game with 128 total snaps at center as a rookie. Oluwatimi’s insertion into the starting unit is yet another shake-up for a Seahawks offensive line that recently lost George Fant to injured reserve for the second time this year. Abraham Lucas is set for his season debut, per Condotta, though Macdonald said the third-year right tackle would be on a snap count.

Seahawks Sign OL Connor Williams

August 17th, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Ben Levine

AUGUST 17: In terms of base value, Williams’ deal checks in at $4MM, per OverTheCap. After signing a two-year, $14MM Dolphins contract (and expressing frustration a year into that deal), the veteran interior O-lineman will attempt to create a better market following his ACL tear.

AUGUST 6: At long last, Connor Williams has landed in Seattle. The veteran offensive lineman has reached an agreement with the Seahawks, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s a one-year deal that could be worth up to $6MM. The contract contains $3MM in guaranteed money.

The veteran has been connected to the Seahawks for several weeks. The two sides overcame their first hurdle when Williams passed a physical, a notable milestone considering the lineman is only about eight months removed from suffering a torn ACL. The signing stalled when the two sides started negotiating a contract, with Williams asking for more than the Seahawks could offer.

While agent Drew Rosenhaus indicated yesterday that a deal was imminent, Williams added a slight wrinkle to the saga by taking a visit with the Ravens. That may have been the final push the Seahawks needed, as the two sides agreed to a deal less than 24 hours after Williams’ reported trip to Baltimore.

There was recent uncertainty surrounding Seattle’s center depth, with the likes of Nick Harris and Olusegun Oluwatimi struggling to take hold of the opportunity. The Seahawks seemed to signal an impending move yesterday, when they moved on from Michael Novitsky.

Williams will now slide atop the depth chart…when he’s ready to take the field. The veteran tore his ACL in December, although Rosenhaus expressed optimism that Williams will be available for Week 1. The injury came at the worst possible time for the impending free agent, as he would have been among the top linemen on the market.

After spending his first four season as a starting guard in Dallas, Williams inked a two-year deal with Miami in 2022. He ended up starting all 17 games at center that season, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the fourth-best player at his position. Williams finished 2023 in the number-two spot, and the veteran previously graded as a top-15 guard during his time with the Cowboys.

With Seattle lacking depth in the middle of their offensive line and Williams hoping to reset his value, this pairing seemed like a perfect match. After a few weeks of uncertainty, the deal has finally come to fruition.

Connor Williams Visits Ravens

August 5th, 2024 at 6:05pm CST by Ben Levine

The Connor Williams sweepstakes is getting a bit more interesting. Earlier today, agent Drew Rosenhaus said that a contract between the Seahawks and his client should be finalized soon. Now, it sounds like another suitor has joined the fray.

[RELATED: Seahawks Nearing Deal With Connor Williams]

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the free agent offensive lineman visited with the Ravens today. Williams is considering “proposals” from both Seattle and Baltimore and is expected to “make a decision soon.”

We heard back in June that the rehabbing offensive lineman was receiving interest from multiple teams, and Williams later passed a physical with the Seahawks before zeroing in on financials. While both sides were interested in a contract, Williams was reportedly pushing for more than the Seahawks could offer. It was only earlier today that Rosenhaus hinted that a deal was still imminent, so it’s a bit surprising to see the Ravens make a sudden appearance in the bidding.

Thanks to his ability to play both guard and center, the 27-year-old would be a natural fit for most squads. Former first-round pick Tyler Linderbaum is entrenched as the Ravens’ starting center, and while the third-year player is currently dealing with a soft tissue issue (per the team website), Williams wouldn’t have been available to soak up his training camp and preseason snaps, anyway.

The Ravens would surely be eyeing Williams at guard, where the team is holding a competition for both starting spots. 2023 seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees is the current favorite for one of those jobs (per Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun), but it doesn’t sound like the team’s other options have emerged. That grouping includes the likes of Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Ben Cleveland, and Daniel Faalele.

Even if Baltimore is able to swoop in and snag Williams, the team would likely be forced to lean on that depth for the early parts of the season. Williams is only about eight months removed from a torn ACL, and while Rosenhaus said today that the lineman is on track to play in Week 1, that might not be the case a month from now.

Seahawks Nearing Deal With Connor Williams; Latest On Team’s OL Battles

August 5th, 2024 at 3:37pm CST by Rory Parks

AUGUST 5: A Williams-to-Seattle agreement should be expected shortly. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said during an appearance on the Joe Rose radio show Monday that a Seahawks contract should be worked out in the next 48-72 hours (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Scott Salomon). Notably, Rosenhaus added Williams will be available for Week 1, a sign of his positive ACL rehab. Getting a deal in place will provide Seattle with a starting center for at least the 2024 campaign, although the length and terms of the pact will be worth watching closely.

AUGUST 4: The Seahawks were engaged in contract talks with center Connor Williams at the end of July, and as ESPN’s Brady Henderson notes, Seattle is still interested in acquiring Williams. While the ACL tear that Williams suffered in 2023 has led to his extended stay on the free agent market and has put his availability for the start of the 2024 season in doubt, Henderson says that money, not health, is the hold-up in negotiations.

Indeed, previous reports indicated that Williams passed his physical with the Seahawks. Per Henderson, the 27-year-old pivot simply wants more than Seattle can pay him (OverTheCap.com estimates that the ‘Hawks presently have a little over $10MM in effective cap space, which is near the bottom of the league but seemingly still enough to bring Williams into the fold, especially if they are willing to consider a multiyear deal).

For now, however, Olusegun Oluwatimi is at the top of the club’s center depth chart, with Henderson noting that the 2023 fifth-rounder has consistently gotten first-team reps ahead of free agent pickup Nick Harris. It appears that another 2023 draftee, Anthony Bradford, has the edge over third-round rookie Christian Haynes for the Seahawks’ other unsettled O-line position, right guard.

George Fant, who is in his second tour of duty in Seattle, continues to take starter’s reps at right tackle while Abraham Lucas works his way back from a knee injury. 2023 UDFA McClendon Curtis is operating behind Fant at right tackle for the time being, though Henderson says Curtis has impressed the Seahawks’ coaching staff and may still be in the RG mix. Despite a clear distribution of first-team snaps through the early stages of training camp, head coach Mike Macdonald says the starting OL has not been established.

Williams, who would have been one of the top free agents on the market this offseason if not for his injury, would certainly be a welcome addition to an offensive front that has several question marks on the interior. He is reportedly talking to other teams as well as Seattle, but those clubs have not yet been identified.

Seahawks, C Connor Williams In Talks

July 24th, 2024 at 12:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

JULY 24: Less than eight months after Williams’ ACL tear, Schefter notes the veteran O-lineman has passed a Seahawks physical and is in talks with the team. No deal is imminent, however, as Williams appears set to gauge his value now that he has cleared a bar on his recovery. The former Cowboys draftee is still talking to other teams.

JULY 22: Connor Williams‘ availability for at least the start of the 2024 season is in doubt, but he is a notable free agent option for teams in need of interior offensive line additions. The former Cowboys and Dolphins starter remains unsigned as teams begin training camps, but that may change soon.

Williams has a Tuesday visit lined up with the Seahawks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 27-year-old has been expected to draw interest around the league, although the ACL tear which cut his 2023 campaign short has hurt his value. A deal allowing him to return to Miami had been floated as a possibility, but a reunion is now considered unlikely.

The Dolphins are set to move forward with Aaron Brewer at center, the position Williams exceled at during his Miami tenure. The latter’s injury has led to a slow-moving free agent process, and it would come as no surprise if Williams elected to take a one-year deal in 2024 aimed at allowing him to return to full health and set his sights on a multi-year accord next offseason. This Seattle visit will be his first known one.

The Seahawks actively sought out a number of guard options during free agency before ultimately making an addition. Seattle signed Laken Tomlinson as a veteran capable of earning a first-team guard spot. The opposite guard role will be contested by the likes of Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes, but uncertainty exists entering camp at the center position.

Nick Harris, Olusegun Oluwatimi and Mike Novitsky reside as Seattle’s top options in the middle as things stand, Williams – a veteran of 83 games and 77 starts – is considerably more experienced, and his play in Miami when healthy demonstrated his ability when used in the middle. He would represent an intriguing addition for the Seahawks if tomorrow’s visit were to go well. The team currently has roughly $8.5MM in cap space.

Connor Williams Has Received Interest From Multiple Teams; Dolphins Reunion Unlikely

June 24th, 2024 at 8:57am CST by Ben Levine

JUNE 24: During his latest appearance on WSVN-7, Williams’ agent Drew Rosenhaus said he would be open to re-signing with the Dolphins but added such a scenario is unlikely (h/t Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). The team’s addition of Aaron Brewer on a three-year, $21MM pact has resulted in a Williams replacement being on the books for 2024 and beyond, so it would come as little surprise if a move out of South Beach were to take place this summer in the latter’s case.

JUNE 18: Connor Williams remains unsigned after undergoing season-ending knee surgery in 2023, but the veteran offensive lineman is still attracting interest from suitors. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Williams has garnered interest from “multiple teams” and plans to pick his destination before the start of training camp.

[RELATED: Latest On Connor Williams, Dolphins Offensive Line]

The former second-round pick started 51 of his 57 appearances in Dallas before signing a two-year, $14MM contract with the Dolphins in 2022. After mostly playing offensive guard during his stint with the Cowboys, Williams started all 17 games at center during his first season in Miami. Pro Football Focus graded him as the fourth-best player at his position in 2022, and with a year remaining on his contract, Williams pushed for a new deal last offseason.

He didn’t end up getting his way and played out the 2023 campaign on his expiring contract. Unfortunately for the impending free agent, a groin injury forced him to miss a handful of games in the first half before an ACL tear officially ended his year in December. He was still plenty productive in his nine appearances, ranking as PFF’s second-best center.

Williams would have been in line for a lucrative pay day if he didn’t suffer his injury, but now he’ll likely miss a significant chunk of the 2024 campaign. Williams could end up opting for a prove-it deal this season before hitting free agency again next offseason. One possibility could be the Dolphins, as we previously heard that a quick reunion has “not been ruled out as a possibility.” Those same reports indicated that the free agent and his most-recent squad would remain in contact throughout his recovery, but based on Schefter’s report, it sounds like additional squads have joined the sweepstakes.

Latest On Dolphins’ Draft Plans

April 20th, 2024 at 12:22pm CST by Ben Levine

While the Dolphins already brought in Aaron Brewer as a potential replacement for Connor Williams, that won’t stop the organization from pursuing additional center depth via the draft. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald passes along, the Dolphins hosted Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson on a top-30 visit this week.

Powers-Johnson didn’t allow any sacks in his 829 snaps at center in 2023, earning him a first-team All-American nod and the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top center. While the lineman has generally competed with the likes of Duke’s Graham Barton and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier in mock drafts, Powers-Johnson is expected to hear his name called at some point during the first two days of the draft…potentially as high as No. 21 to the Dolphins.

While a potential return to Miami remains a possibility for Williams, there’s a good chance the veteran sits out the 2024 campaign while rehabbing his ACL injury. After starting all 34 games for the Titans between 2022 and 2023, Brewer was brought in as a replacement at center. As Jackson notes, both Brewer and Powers-Johnson have experience playing offensive guard, so the team wouldn’t necessarily be setting themselves up for a competition at center.

It sounds like offensive line has been a specific focus for the Dolphins throughout the pre-draft process. Jackson notes that the organization has hosted a number of offensive linemen who are considered late first-round picks, but the organization hasn’t done the same for defensive players in the same tier. While Jackson warns that the front office wouldn’t willingly show their hand, it seems pretty clear that the Dolphins are leaning towards OL depth in the first round.

One position the organization isn’t considering with their first-round pick? A quarterback, as GM Chris Grier told reporters (via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network). Considering both the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa are focused on signing a long-term pact, it’s not a surprise that the Dolphins won’t waste an early-round pick on a developmental backup. However, Grier did note that the Dolphins could consider taking a player at the position later in the draft.

Latest On Connor Williams, Dolphins Offensive Line

April 1st, 2024 at 8:18pm CST by Ben Levine

Connor Williams‘ availability for the 2024 campaign is in doubt after he suffered a torn ACL in December. Whenever he’s ready to take the field, it sounds like a return to the Dolphins will be in play.

[RELATED: Drew Rosenhaus On Dolphins C Connor Williams’ Free Agency Timeline]

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Williams’ potential return to Miami has “not been ruled out as a possibility.” The two sides will “remain in occasional communication” while the center rehabs.

Williams joined the Dolphins on a two-year contract in 2022 and proceeded to start all 17 games for Miami. With the lineman set to earn a $6.5MM base salary on an expiring contract in 2023, Williams was absent from minicamp. The two sides didn’t resolve his contract situation, and Williams was ultimately in the lineup for Week 1.

A nagging groin injury forced him to miss four games during the first half of the 2023 season, but he started each of his five games following his return. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 that ended his season and put his 2024 campaign in doubt. Williams was setting himself up nicely for free agency prior to the injury, earning a stellar 86.5 grade from Pro Football Focus that positioned him behind only the Lions’ Frank Ragnow among qualified centers.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus previously said that Williams will be “methodical” and take his time as he considers his next landing spot, but it sounds like Miami will remain a possibility. The team brought in Aaron Brewer as a replacement at center, and the organization could also look towards the draft for more depth at the position.

Elsewhere on the OL, the team’s uncertainty at the two guard positions has led the front office to explore options via free agency. As Jackson writes, the Dolphins “have had at least some level of communication” with two “veteran free agent starting” offensive guards, and they’ve also talked with a player who profiles as a part-timer. However, the Dolphins are prepared to see how things unfold in the draft before they make an addition at the position.

As Jackson writes, Isaiah Wynn is in the driver’s seat to start at left guard. On the other side, the team could be eyeing some competition for the likes of Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones, Lester Cotton, and Jack Driscoll.

Free Agency Notes: Giants, Vikings, Jets, Hawks, Huff, Commanders, Ekeler, Raiders, Dolphins, Jacobs, Rams

March 21st, 2024 at 9:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bryce Huff market did not reach the level of Jonathan Greenard‘s, and Danielle Hunter also scored a better guarantee compared to the Jets‘ contract-year breakout pass rusher. But the Eagles needed to give Huff a three-year, $51.1MM deal with $34MM guaranteed. That came about because, per Huff, the Commanders, Giants, Seahawks and Vikings joined the Jets in pursuing him. The Jets had expressed interest in keeping the former UDFA, who led the team in sacks last season, but their 2023 Will McDonald draft choice appeared to point Huff elsewhere.

Minnesota came in early with its Greenard signing (four years, $76MM, $38MM fully guaranteed), while Washington turned to one of Dan Quinn‘s ex-Cowboys charges — Dorance Armstrong — soon after. The Giants made a bigger splash hours later by trading for Brian Burns, in a deal that involved a second-rounder going to the Panthers and fifth-rounders being swapped, while the Seahawks devoted their funding to fortifying their interior D-line (via the Leonard Williams deal). Huff, 26, led the NFL in pressure rate last season but was not used as a full-time D-end. It should be expected the Eagles, who have Haason Reddick in trade rumors, will up Huff’s usage.

Here is the latest free agency fallout:

  • As Lloyd Cushenberry and Andre James scored nice contracts, the center market has not seen Connor Williams come off the board. It should be a while on that front. Rehabbing an ACL tear, Williams is not expected to sign anywhere anytime soon, agent Drew Rosenahus said during a WSVP interview (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson). Williams going down in Week 14 certainly has impacted his market. Pro Football Focus graded the two-year Dolphins blocker as a top-five center in each of his two Miami seasons. Ahead of his age-27 season, the ex-Cowboys draftee will probably need to show teams he is healthy or on track to full strength before a deal commences.
  • The Raiders lost their starting running back in free agency, seeing Josh Jacobs join the Packers. Zamir White is tentatively in place as Las Vegas’ starter, but the now-Tom Telesco-run club did show interest in Austin Ekeler, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. Telesco was with the Chargers when they signed Ekeler as a UDFA and when they extended him, but the GM did not greenlight a second extension last year. That led to trade rumors and a small incentive package. Ekeler signed a two-year, $8.43MM Commanders deal, indicating (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala) the NFC East team showed the most interest. Despite leading the NFL in TDs in 2021 and 2022, Ekeler received only $4.2MM fully guaranteed — ninth among FA backs this year.
  • As for Jacobs, his guarantee fell well short of Saquon Barkley‘s and shy of the Bears’ commitment to D’Andre Swift. The Packers signed Jacobs to a four-year, $48MM deal, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes only the $12.5MM signing bonus is guaranteed (plus a $1.2MM 2024 salary). Beyond 2024, this is a pay-as-you-go deal. Jacobs is due a $5.93MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2025 league year, creating a pivotal date for Green Bay’s backfield. The Packers are known for shying away from guarantees beyond Year 1, in most instances, but it is interesting to see the gap between guarantees Barkley could secure ($26MM) and Jacobs’ locked-in money.
  • The gap between Xavier McKinney‘s Packers deal and the Rams‘ two-year Kamren Curl pact ended up wider than the aforementioned RBs. Curl agreed to a $9MM accord, per the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. Curl, 25, has two seasons to show he can command a more lucrative contract. But McKinney (four years, $68MM) showed how valuable an age-25 offseason can be for earning power, making the Curl contract look quite Rams-friendly.
  • Jonnu Smith‘s two-year Dolphins deal came in at $8.4MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Miami will guarantee the former Tennessee, New England and Atlanta tight end $3.96MM. No guarantees are present beyond 2024, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Miami’s three-year Jordyn Brooks accord lands slightly lower than initially reported, with Wilson adding the ex-Seattle linebacker signed for $26.25MM. Brooks’ contract features $16MM guaranteed; just $9.5MM of that sum is guaranteed at signing.
Load More Posts