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Darious Williams

Darious Williams Player Profile

Summary

Darious Williams went undrafted in the 2018 Class out of University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). Williams entered the NFL as a feel‑for‑the‑game, high‑motor cornerback who overcame undersized metrics—listed around 5′10″–5′11″ and ~190 lbs—to carve out a starting role through smart play, ball skills and competitive toughness. He became a contributor to a Super Bowl team with the Los Angeles Rams, earned high grades in coverage, and demonstrated versatility across outside and nickel alignments that earned him a solid free agent contract in Jacksonville before returning to LA. His projection is as a reliable veteran boundary/nickel corner who adds value via instincts and ball hawking rather than pure physical dominance.

Strengths

  • Exceptional ball‑skills and turnover threat: Williams has shown a knack for intercepting passes, defending the catch point and turning opportunities into takeaways. Los Angeles Rams

  • High football IQ and conceptual understanding: Strong recognition of route‑concepts, anticipation of the quarterback, and ability to stay in phase via awareness rather than relying purely on elite speed. SI

  • Short‑area quickness and effective in tight‑space matchups: Despite being undersized for the boundary, he shows good lateral agility, quick feet at the line, and ability to mirror receivers in short space. SI

  • Competitive nature and physical attitude: Williams brings a scrappy mindset, is willing to engage in run support, and doesn’t shy away from contact despite his physical limitations.

  • Production and reliability at the pro level: He became a starter, earned strong grades (including a top‑coverage grade in 2023) and has sustained performance across seasons. Los Angeles Rams

Weaknesses

  • Below‑ideal size and length for boundary corner play: At about 5′10″ and lacking elite arm length, his physical profile is viewed as less than optimal for defending large, long outside receivers. SB Nation

  • Top‑end deep speed and recovery sometimes questioned: While quick in short areas, his ability to recover against top jump‑ball receivers or burners has been flagged as a concern. SB Nation

  • Consistency in press‑man release and winning the physical battle at the line: Given his size, he can be challenged off physical releases and may struggle to dominate the first‑rep against bigger receivers. 247Sports

  • Durability increments and age factor: Entering his veteran years, recent seasons have seen dips in performance and potential concerns about long‑term consistency. Last Word On Sports

  • Ceiling tied to role and scheme fit: His best value appears in systems that play off‑man, zone coverage and allow match‑ups suited to his strengths; schemes that demand out‑mirroring elite vertical threats might expose limitations.

Fit & Outlook

Williams fits best in defensive schemes that emphasize versatility, ball‑hawk corners, and allow him to excel via instincts and technique rather than relying solely on size/speed. He is particularly well‑suited to systems that use a mix of outside and nickel alignments, provide help on the boundary, and make frequent use of zone or pattern‑match coverages. Teams wanting a press‑man‑only corner with elite length and burner speed may not optimize his profile, but defenses valuing physical competitiveness, turnover ability and smart cover‑play will. Looking ahead, Williams’ outlook remains positive. His floor is that of a dependable veteran cornerback who can start in many matchups, contribute quality coverage snaps, and bring leadership and intelligence to the secondary. His upside includes being a high‑value starter in the right scheme, one who can still produce turnovers, defend at a high level and mentor younger players. Key variables will include keeping his physical condition strong, maintaining performance as he ages, and ensuring he does not get mismatched against receivers whose physical traits exploit his size/length disadvantages.