Seattle Seahawks sign Kevin Williams to one-year contract
The Seattle Seahawks and free-agent defensive lineman Kevin Williams agreed to a one-year deal worth more than $2 million on Thursday, reports Ed Werder of ESPN.com. The move has also been confirmed by none other than the Seahawks’ owner, Paul Allen.
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Adding to a roster known for its “Legion of Boom” defense, Williams provides experience and depth to a line already loaded with talent. An 11-year veteran who spent the entirety of that time with the Minnesota Vikings, he was once considered one of the elite defensive tackles in the game.
While Williams no longer plays at that All-Pro level, he started 15 games for the Vikings last season and has started at least 14 games every year of his career. Above all else, he’s proven to be durable, and given how health can impact a team over 16-plus games, that alone should make Williams a useful addition.
However, it’s become clear that Williams is no longer the difference-maker he used to be. Last season, Williams recorded just 17 tackles and 3.5 sacks, well below the numbers delivered during his peak. That’s understandable at 33-years-old, though, and considering he’ll turn 34 in August, we probably shouldn’t expect things to get better.
Still, the Seahawks can look to Williams’ track record and see why they’re willing to give him a shot. From 2004-10, Williams made six Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors five times, consistently deserving his accolades as one of the premier defensive linemen in the game.
Seattle presumably doesn’t expect that player, and the team didn’t pay for it. At a fairly reasonable cost, Williams gives the Seahawks another defender to keep building.