Monday, March 16, 2015

Tramon Williams Leaves For The Browns

I'm more sentimental about players than GM Ted Thompson. CB Tramon Williams played more snaps on defense last season than any other Packer defensive player and was still one of their most valuable players last season. But that was last year and it's important to consider what you think he'll be worth in a couple years. Thompson considered it and thought Williams was worth $4 million annually over the next two years. This is probably the reason the Packers often don't give their own players a second multi-year contract after their rookie deals are over. The market inflates the value of older players based on past performance (see WR Greg Jennings as a recent example) while Thompson has a much better understanding of their future value.

Williams also visited with the Saints and was thought to be pursued by the Seahawks, the Patriots had interest too, but none of these typically better run organizations were willing to pay as much as the Browns, who just made one of the worst free agent decisions of 2015 by betting on QB Josh McCown.
He's been a great player for the Packers and I'm glad he's going to get paid, but that contract is based on his past performance. Thompson was praised by Bill Barnwell for negotiating only $8 million in guaranteed money for RT Bryan Bulaga (who almost certainly could have gotten a lot more from the Bills) and I bet Williams will have more guaranteed dollars in his new contract than Bulaga.

Like I said, I'm sentimental and I wanted him back for next season, but if the Packers had matched the Browns then his contract could have been a problem as soon as next season. Without Williams, depth is a major concern that will have to be addressed in the draft, but the Packers should be fine for next season with CB Micah Hyde sliding over into Williams's role.
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