The Redskins could very well have a need for a new No. 1 cornerback in 2019.
Josh Norman was brought in by the Washington Redskins to fill that role back in 2016. In his first two years, he provided fairly solid play, locking down entire sides of the field with his length, awareness, and tenacity.
In 2018, however, the feisty veteran has gotten off to a slow start, a slow start that reached its lowest point against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5, when the veteran simply didn’t look himself, and let a number of key plays go by.
It’s still early in the season, and Norman has the time and the knowledge to gain back some ground. But it’s worth wondering if physically, Norman has passed his peak. He’s 30 years old, and set to turn 31 years old at the end of this year.
Historically, cornerbacks don’t last long after that threshold. And with his cumbersome cap number, and the emergence of Quinton Dunbar as a solid starter, Norman’s time in D.C. might be dwindling. Even if Norman leaves with a sour reputation, his departure will leave a void on the starting lineup, a void that will have to be filled.
There are a number of solid cornerbacks in the NFL Draft who the Redskins could look to for this purpose, but we’ve looked at mid-round prospects for the past couple weeks. It’s high time we took a look at a 2019 NFL Draft juggernaut. He might not be there when Washington picks, but he sets the tone, and he knows how to play. This week’s subject of the Saturday Spotlight is LSU cornerback Andraez “Greedy” Williams.
Greedy Williams Player Breakdown
Williams is one of the premier prospects in the entire 2019 NFL Draft, so there are most certainly going to be more pros than cons. Put on his tape, and you’ll very quickly learn that this is the case.
Coming from a school that possesses a cornerback lineage featuring names such as Patrick Peterson, Tre’Davious White, Donte Jackson, and Morris Claiborne, Williams looks to be the next in a long line of successful defensive backs who transitioned from LSU to the NFL.
Williams has very good length at 6-foot-1. At less than 190 pounds, he’s a bit lanky and undersized, but it hasn’t yet contributed to a durability issue in his career. With his impressive length, Williams also has exceptional acceleration and closing speed. He can use these skills to compensate for mistakes.
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Of course, mistakes don’t come often for Greedy Williams. He takes advantage of press opportunities to position himself favorably at the line of scrimmage, and he doesn’t overcompensate. He can go stride-for-stride with most receivers, mirroring movements, and in one-on-one situations, such as end zone fades or deep routes, he consistently gets his head around. He matches his vision with precise, well-timed hands, and he’s always searching for the ball (hence, the nickname “Greedy”.
While Williams does have impressive strengths, there are areas where he can improve. He’s measured in pursuit, and he doesn’t take himself out of plays, but if the play doesn’t come to him, he doesn’t always come to it. He can sometimes be too hesitant as a tackler, focusing too much on keeping his shoulders square, as opposed to attacking the ball carrier when the time is right.
Most of Williams’ faults come outside of coverage, but he does lose track of the ball in deep coverage enough to warrant modest concern, and he’s sometimes slow to recognize in-breaking routes. There is room for polish in Greedy’s game, but he’ll be just 21 years old come draft day. Overall, the present toolset is enticing, and there’s no reason he can’t be an effective No. 1 cornerback in the NFL.
Greedy Williams 2018 Performance Update
As a redshirt freshman, Greedy Williams took college football by storm with six interceptions and ten pass deflections. In his second season, he’s not slowing down.
Through five games, Williams has 18 total tackles, two interceptions, and two pass deflections, again showing off the ball skills that make him one of the nation’s most coveted college prospects.
Today, at 3:30 P.M. eastern standard time, Williams’ LSU Tigers will go toe-to-toe with the Georgia Bulldogs. While the Bulldogs’ starting receivers, Riley Ridley and Terry Godwin, aren’t overwhelming prospects, the team’s offense is led by young quarterback sensation Jake Fromm.
Fromm, in 21 career games, has thrown 36 touchdowns and just nine interceptions, and he’s perhaps one game away from eclipsing 4,000 career yards. The battle between Fromm and Williams will be a test of both wit and physical ability, and it will be a very fun one to watch.
Relevance to the Redskins
Josh Norman isn’t done yet. But the veteran corner might be on his last wheels, and as time moves on, he won’t get any younger.
The logical thing for the Redskins to do this offseason would be to prepare for the eventual complete fading of Norman, and the coinciding void that will appear on the depth chart.
Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau may end up being two long-term starters for the Redskins, but the team can’t leave any weaknesses for offenses to scheme around, if they can help it. Greedy Williams would do the job of eliminating any mismatches better than most.
That said, there’s no guarantee that Williams will be available where the Redskins pick. He’s been mocked as high as the top five this season, and it’s very clear that he’s one of the best players in the upcoming draft. That said, the Redskins have had such luck before, in the form of Jonathan Allen, who miraculously fell into their laps in 2017. Will Williams somehow find his way into D.C.? Or will the Redskins find a way to move up to him? Either way, he’s worth the risk.