Report: Tramon Williams Agrees to Deal with Cleveland Browns
The former Packers cornerback reportedly got a three-year, $21 million offer from the Browns.
Cornerback Tramon Williams—Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports.
After making a free agent visit on Sunday, Tramon Williams has reportedly reached an agreement with the Cleveland Browns, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Former Packers CB Tramon Williams has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2015
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network shared some rough contract details shortly thereafter:
The #Browns are signing CB Tramon Williams to a 3-year worth $21M, source said. It’s his 32nd birthday
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2015
The Packers reporteldy offered Williams a two-year deal worth $8 million, which Williams rejected, seeking more in terms of both money and years.
Williams certainly appeared to get more security in his new deal from the Browns, although it will be interesting to see how the contract is structured, how much guaranteed money he got and whether the Browns can release him down the road without much of a salary-cap hit.
Green Bay moves forward with significantly less depth at the cornerback position than they did last season considering they previously lost Davon House to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If there's a silver lining, it's that the Packers have a good core of cornerbacks returning, including Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde and Demetri Goodson.
With Shields returning as one full-time starter, the big question might be whether Hayward can become a three-down player capable of lining up both on the perimeter and the slot.
"It's not even a question, 'Can I do it?' It's just when I get an opportunity, a chance to do it, I'll be great at it," Hayward said on Cheeshead TV's Railbird Central last week.
Hyde would appear to fit as one of the team's slot cornerbacks, although his ability to play on the outside is more questionable than Hayward.
Goodson, meanwhile, is being groomed as a perimeter cornerback with good speed and ball skills, he just lacking experience after what was essentially a reshirt season as a rookie in the NFL.
At 32 years old, it doesn't appear as if the loss of Williams will get the Packers a compensatory draft pick.
Comments (58)
zoellner25
March 16, 2015 at 02:37 pm
This team is about to get a whole lot younger. Now I have to look at CBs in mock drafts. ughhhh.
aj
March 16, 2015 at 03:12 pm
My favorite corner in the draft is Jalen Collins of LSU, the kid can ball.
hybridauth_Facebook_100004084225446
March 16, 2015 at 04:20 pm
good pic ranked #38 how strange is that T.W 's old # :)
L
March 17, 2015 at 04:07 pm
The Draft of course will be one method to add to our team's CB depth, but I say let us also look at bringing in CB Sterling Moore who is just 25 years old and played fairly solid as the 3rd corner for the Dallas Cowboys last year and saw his role increase as the season wore on. He's a RFA who wasn't tendered by the Cowboys which should make him the equivalent of a Street FA even though he'll be listed as an UFA IIRC. As a Street FA he's someone who won't count against the Pack's compensation picks. He should be able to compete for a game day role and I don't believe it'll cost us too much to bring him in; however, I could be way off on that guess -- maybe it takes a fairly big signing w/ notable amounts of guaranteed money to bring him here in which case I'm sure TT is best to decide on whether or not he's worth it.
HankScorpio
March 16, 2015 at 02:39 pm
I thought House got crazy money. Tramon is a better player but his age meant he should have gotten less than House, IMO. I guess he did because House got a longer term but Tramon beat House's per year average. Good for Tramon. He's a true pro and deserves whatever someone will give him.
And good for Casey Hayward who gets a chance to back up his assertion that he's not just a slot defender.
hybridauth_Facebook_100004084225446
March 16, 2015 at 02:48 pm
That will change our draft pic now :(
PackerAaron
March 16, 2015 at 07:48 pm
Which one? The Packers have seven right now and will get at least one compensatory pick later this month.
JimTaylor31
March 16, 2015 at 02:51 pm
Congrats to Tramon. He was a team-first guy and a good Packer. At his age I can't blame him for taking the money. Now we may have a problem. I think we may miss having a veteran DB. Draft or no draft I am leary of inexperienced DBs when we are in good positon for a SB run. I'm still confident Ted will get it figured out but right now we have a hole in our secondary.
aj
March 16, 2015 at 03:11 pm
That's where the safeties will become ultra important, and I think we have a very good pair back there. Also, I've been saying that Hayward deserved an opportunity to take the boundary corner spot this season even if house/tramon were brought back. Now, we'll likely get to see that plan being put to action.
HankScorpio
March 16, 2015 at 03:35 pm
Agreed that there is a hole in the secondary without House or Williams. Heck, I think this puts some leverage in Jarrett Bush's corner. He's been sneaking on to the field on defense more and more lately and not prompted the howls from fans that he had been prompting every time he got any kind of snaps.
But there is not a single position coach in GB that I have more confidence in than Joe Whitt Jr. He's cranked out solid player after solid player at CB. Williams and Shields were UDFA. Hyde was a 5th. House was a raw 4th that managed to get big $$ from Jax after Whitt coached him up. He's made Bush look like something other than a disaster when he plays. Maybe Whitt can get Demetri Goodson and/or Tay Glover-Wright ready to play by this fall. I think how the Packers respond from here will be largely dependent on a no-BS assessment from Whitt in what he's got in Goodson and Glover-Wright.
White92
March 17, 2015 at 01:20 pm
Listening to Wayne Laravee on WTMJ last night I heard him saying that Whitt really likes Goodson. Obviously they wouldn't have cut the other kid late in camp last year if they didn't. But Laravee was saying Whitt thinks Goodson compares to Shields when he was a rookie. Hoping he's right!
aj
March 16, 2015 at 03:10 pm
How do you figure he won't return a draft pick,his aav is 7/yr? That's higher than House's aav.
HankScorpio
March 16, 2015 at 03:33 pm
I think comp picks are based on first year pay. I'm guessing House got more than Williams there but I haven't seen either deal broken down. Usually that is about signing bonus and House got 4 yrs, not 3. So House likely got a bigger bonus.
I'm not aware of any age-related disqualification of the comp pick formula per se. But there is a loophole that applies to some older players in some situations. If a veteran sign for the vet minimum with no SB the team gets what amounts to a rebate in terms of cap space. This was done so veterans would be on more equal footing with younger players in terms of cap hit. If a veteran signs using that exemption, he doesn't count in the comp pick formula. Clearly Williams does not fall into that category.
aj
March 16, 2015 at 04:09 pm
I'm pretty sure aav is more important than the structure of the contract in the comp pick formula. Tramon should net us a 4th next season assuming someone like mason foster isn't signed.
hybridauth_Facebook_100002574551585
March 16, 2015 at 03:31 pm
Age. Over 30 or 10 yr vets I believe dont factor into comp pick formula.
Happy for Tramon for finding the deal he felt he deserved, im gonna miss him though.
HankScorpio
March 16, 2015 at 03:45 pm
According to the NFL press release announcing the 2014 picks, some of the players considered were over 30. In particular, Ed Reed is well over 30. Wes Welker is 33 right now. He was counted.
https://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/03-24-14-compensatory-picks...
hybridauth_Facebook_100002574551585
March 16, 2015 at 03:34 pm
GB should get Sterling Moore in for a visit before he signs with the Steelers or someone else. He reminds me a lot of Micah Hyde, just a good football player.
Ibleedgreenmore
March 16, 2015 at 03:38 pm
Its ILB and corner those are prime to me better plug the middle get back the beef up front.
Evan
March 16, 2015 at 03:43 pm
Hate to see a strength of the team become a question mark so quickly.
At the same time, can't fault TT for not matching/surpassing either deal.
jh9
March 17, 2015 at 11:39 am
Now that Williams and House have left, I think it's important to sign both Raji and Guion. The reason I say that is that we need now to address ILB and CB with our first two picks in this year's draft. We can get starting caliber players in the first two rounds. If we have to draft a starting NT, we would have to do it with our first pick and whoever we get in the 3rd round (most likely a CB) it will take a year or two before he is ready to start.
I like Hayward, but I don't trust his hamstring. I think we need to draft a CB who has the ability to take over for Hayward if he physically can't perform.
aj
March 16, 2015 at 10:33 pm
I know ilb is an important need for the team, but starters can be found in the 4th round.I'm more worried about getting the big boys early in the draft, along with a developmental cb at some point.
jh9
March 17, 2015 at 08:22 am
I agree. The big boys are important. However, I believe we need to take the best ILB with our first pick. Ideally, I would like to see TT trade down out of the 1st round and get an extra 6th or 7th round pick and take our first draft pick in the 38-40 spot. Stephone Anthony should be available there.
In the 2nd round at #62, we could get CB Alex Carter from Stanford or Byron Jones from Connecticut. Both of these guys have the talent to eventually start in year one.
As for the big guys... OT Cedric Ogbughi from Texas A&M should be available in round 3 and DT Leterrius Walton from Central Michigan should be available in the 4th round. Both these guys have the talent to start but not for one or two years. If the Packers resign Raji and Guion, we'll have both the offensive and defensive lines covered for this season and these big guys can spend the first year transitioning to the NFL and step in next year if need be.
hybridauth_Facebook_100004084225446
March 16, 2015 at 04:28 pm
Best players on the board that's who Packers need to get first 4 rounds players able too start ...........
NewNikeShoes
March 16, 2015 at 04:35 pm
Kinda expected him to leave, and I did think that he should be paid decently, but this is hella expensive. I would have signed him for like 5 mil a year, not 7. On the other hand, we now have a 3rd/4th and a 4th/5th comp pick next year, so its not all bad.
Samson
March 16, 2015 at 04:39 pm
Are you suggesting that 4th & 5th round comp picks will vault us into another SB?
I hope not.
Packer_Pete
March 16, 2015 at 06:23 pm
Well let's look at who Ted drafted in either 4th or 5th round the last 3 years:
Bradford
Linsley
Boyd
Hyde
Franklin
Tretter
Bakhtiari
McMillian
Daniels
4 starters, 2 back-ups, 2 guys who are out of the NFL, and 1 (Bradford) who one cannot say anything about yet. 6 our of 9 either starters or backups playing on a regular basis is not bad at all, and a few of those players are really good. So I'd take my chances there and say that yes, a couple of 4th or 5th round picks for Ted is a very good thing and could bring the team closer to the SB...
barutanseijin
March 16, 2015 at 08:56 pm
Well,one thing you can say about Bradford is that he couldn't get on the field.
NickPerry
March 21, 2015 at 10:57 am
David Bakhtiari (4th) and Cory Linsley (5th) turned out okay. Matter of fact so did Daniels (4th) and Hyde (5th). Damn Samson, don't you ever get tired of sticking your foot in mouth? BTW, he took one to the house against your Queens in 2013.
Samson
March 16, 2015 at 04:36 pm
ILB, CB and even the DL are now very questionable areas on the 'D'. ----For a team on the edge of a legitimate SB run, too many holes on just what was an average defense. Now this defense is even more average.
TT must be saving the $$$ for when AR retires. ---- Like it or not. This is season 5 since our last championship.
ben
March 16, 2015 at 05:41 pm
Wow, some objective thought. But really it's 1 championship in what will be 11 years, with the best Football player to ever play the game at the very influential position of QB.
Would Lebron or Tom Brady be happy with 1 ring in over a decade? Why are you?
FITZCORE1252
March 16, 2015 at 04:49 pm
Can't fault Tramon, can't fault Ted. That's just too much money for Tramon at his age, but kudos to him for getting what he could.
Shaping up to be a very defense heavy draft. Here's hoping Goodson takes a BIG step.
ben
March 16, 2015 at 06:39 pm
Sign:
#1:NT-BJ Raji, #2:RB-Dujuan Harris, #3:ILB-Colin McCarthy, #4:WR-Jarrett Boykin
Trade 1:
Saints Get: WR:DavonteAdams, S:HaseanDix, (2015 2nd Round)
Packers Get: CB:KeenanLewis, (2016 1st Round), (2016 4th Round)
Trade 2:
49ers Get: (2015 6th Round), (2016 5th Round)
Packers Get: TE:VernonDavis
2015 53-man Roster
QB: Rodgers, Tolzien, (7thRound:TaylorHeinicke-PracticeSquad)
RB: Lacey, DuJuan, Starks, Raijon Neal
FB: Kuhn
WR: Jordy, Cobb, Janis, Abbrederis, Boykin, (comp6thRound:DarrenWaller)
TE: Vernon Davis, Quarless, (comp7thRound:CjUzomah), Rodgers
OL: Bakhtiari, Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Bulaga, Barclay, Vujnovich, Tretter
DL: Daniels, Raji, (1stRound:JordonPhillips), Datone, Boyd, Pennel, Luther Robinson
ILB: Clay , Colin McCarthy, (4thRound:BenHeeney), Barrington
OLB: Peppers, Perry, Neal, Jayrone Elliot, Adrian Hubbard
CB: Shields, Keenan Lewis, Heyward, (3rdRound:RonaldDarby), Goodson
S: Burnett, Hyde, Richardson, (5thRound:JustinCox), Banjo
ST: Crosby, Masthay, LS: (see roster-TBD)
NewNikeShoes
March 16, 2015 at 06:19 pm
I hope you realize your stupidity one day.
Do you push on doors that say pull?
MarkinMadison
March 16, 2015 at 08:32 pm
Ridiculous trades.
DrealynWilliams
March 16, 2015 at 08:42 pm
Lol,wanna know what's funny?
I read the last 3 replies (not including mine) first and before I got to the original post I thought to myself, "this must be Ben's post"
zeke
March 16, 2015 at 10:43 pm
LaMichael James isn't involved in the trade, so my guess is that this is a hoax.
4thand1
March 16, 2015 at 09:35 pm
He's doing this on purpose. No one could be this mental.
aj
March 16, 2015 at 09:41 pm
The saints absolutely kill us in your trade. You can't be serious man...
murphy
March 16, 2015 at 10:01 pm
I'm confused; I thought we were trading Rodgers for Suh. This changes everything!
NickPerry
March 21, 2015 at 10:50 am
Ben I can't call someone stupid on here, it just doesn't sit right with me personally. But I have to admit and agree with all those that commented on your trade ideas. Why would we trade 2 potential All-Pros in Adams and HHCD and our 2nd round pick THIS year for a 29 year old CB and and 1st and 4th NEXT year. Adams had a typical "Rookie WR" season in Green Bay, but showed us glimpses of what was to come against New England and Dallas in the Playoffs. HHCD is just getting started and will be one of the top Safeties in the NFL one day soon. Just relax Ben, it's going to be alright.
Evan
March 16, 2015 at 09:18 pm
Holy shit - Chris Borland is retiring??! Says it's not worth the risk to his long-term health. Best of luck to him.
4thand1
March 16, 2015 at 09:36 pm
I smell something rotten by the bay.
RCPackerFan
March 17, 2015 at 06:20 am
it feels that way doesn't it?
DrealynWilliams
March 16, 2015 at 09:59 pm
Wow.
And we thought we had injury problems. The 49ers can not stop this rapid downfall.
#WhosLeft?
sheppercheeser
March 17, 2015 at 05:46 am
The Tramon situation?- a win/win. Tramon gets his money and 3-yr. contract and Ted was smart enough to let TW go one year too early, rather than one year too late, which I'm afraid the Browns will find out. Now I'm anxious to see who steps up- Hayward, Hyde or Goodson. Go Pack!
lebowski
March 17, 2015 at 08:24 am
The only thing that truly bothers me with this situation is having to read again how we let Rolle get signed away with an empty roster spot sitting there waiting for him… and he goes on to lead the Texans in interceptions as a backup. Clearly outplayed Goodson in preseason.
DrealynWilliams
March 17, 2015 at 09:47 am
True.
But if there's any position TT/Dom knows how to find - it's CB.
RCPackerFan
March 17, 2015 at 10:51 am
I completely agree with you.
Most of us felt that he was the better player in camp and preseason. So a lot of us were kind of surprised that he got released in favor of Goodson. Then when they had an opening on the roster most of us thought Rolle would be the one to get elevated. He wasn't.
Then he left.
I still think they made a bad decision in keeping Goodson over Rolle, and then for not bringing him up when they had the opportunity.
I would feel more comfortable if we had Rolle. I thought he could have been the next Tramon Williams or Sam Shields. Undrafted FA's to come in and start and play well.
Hopefully these decisions won't hurt us in the future.
KenEllis
March 17, 2015 at 12:59 pm
It was wise for TT to let Tramon go for that amount of $.
It remains to be seen if it was wise of TT to let House go for the $ he received, but TT has a pretty good track record of not overpaying guys (Brad Jones and AJ Hawk being the unfortunate exceptions to the rule).
It also very much remains to be seen if the CB position will be adequately manned in 2015. Work to do for TT and Joe Whitt.
balding_pastor
March 17, 2015 at 04:14 pm
At 32 years old, it doesn't appear as if the loss of Williams will get the Packers a compensatory draft pick.. What does age have to do with compensatory picks? I thought it was the size the signed players contract, whether he was a starter.....that sort of thing.
HankScorpio
March 23, 2015 at 08:15 am
Ed Reed was counted in the compensatory formula when he left Baltimore for Houston after the age of 32.
It's all about the Benjamins.
sonomaca
March 21, 2015 at 11:50 am
Why it has to be CB in first round. There are four premium positions in the NFL: QB, pass rusher, #1 receiver, and CB. The Pack don't have needs at any of those except CB. We see the money even 2nd rate CB's are getting. The Packer have shown that they aren't willing to pay up for most CB's, which means they will be looking for CB value in round 1.
ILB and TE can wait for later rounds.
Samson
March 21, 2015 at 02:01 pm
Of course you're right, sonomaca. --- Show me a team with a weak secondary and you have a team OUT of the playoffs.
DannyDS (Stroh) is only expressing his opinion to start an issue with you. ---- He's a troll who's only goal here is to stir things up. --- Personally, I think he's a CHTV plant to draw hits.
sonomaca
March 21, 2015 at 07:06 pm
Nah, he had a point about LT.
I'm wondering about Bradford. They're apparently ready to let Lattimore go. With Hawk gone, I'm guessing they like one or more young ILB's, in addition to Barrington. Bradford? Hubbard? Thomas? Palmer?
NewNikeShoes
March 22, 2015 at 08:53 pm
Damn, u on point son. MM just announced that Palmer and Bradford are ILBS, atleast for now
sonomaca
March 21, 2015 at 07:19 pm
Mariota uncannily similar to young Rodgers. Smart, athletic, fast, and raw. The only thing I don't know is whether he's capable of developing a very strong arm or not. If he's still there at 20, for whatever reason, I think Ted tries to move up and get him.
sonomaca
March 21, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Rodgers is approaching 32. He's had injuries lately. He has at least two concussions. Mariota probably needs 4 years of development (one more than Rodgers). I think McCarthy and Thompson would take him if they thought he had a 60-40 chance or better of being franchise QB.
If you think Mariota would leave GB after 4 years to play QB for the Jaguars or the Bills, that's nuts. If he has a chance to become the next GB QB legend, he's going to stay.
jmac34
March 22, 2015 at 11:41 am
Very few positions last as long in this league as the QB position. Rodgers, barring an unforeseen injury, should last another 5-8 years. This isn't the draft to be looking for a replacement. Also this is an awful QB class and I am not impressed with either top QB in this class.