Arizona Cardinals Sign Running Back Darrel Williams
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams lands in the desert, having visited the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the off-season.
According to John Gambadoro, the signing is for the veterans’ minimum.
Kansas City signed Williams in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. The 2022 season will be his fifth in the NFL, having spent his first four with the Chiefs.
Williams’ most productive season came in 2021 – he had a total of 1,010 yards (558 on the ground, 452 through the air) to go with eight total touchdowns (six rushing, two receiving).
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is said to have vouched for Williams, according to Jordan Schultz. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is Mahomes’ former coach from their Texas Tech days.
Williams will face his former side in Week 1 of the regular season.
What it means for the Cardinals
The addition of Williams comes after the Cardinals lost running back Chase Edmonds to the Miami Dolphins via free agency. They did, however, manage to retain James Conner to a three-year deal after a productive debut season with the team.
Last season, the Cardinals opted for a ‘one-two’ punch with Conner and Edmonds. Having lost Edmonds, Conner projects as the featured running back, with Williams best-suited to a third-down running back role. His main mismatch ability is as a receiving threat.
Behind Conner and Williams, the Cardinals have 2020 seventh-round selection Eno Benjamin, special team ace Jonathan Ward and rookie Keaontay Ingram as their running back depth. Williams brings some needed experience to a young running back room.
After a quiet off-season prior to the NFL Draft, the Cardinals are expected to make some more free agency signings in the following month. Defensive lineman Kingsley Keke signed with the side recently, adding some necessary depth and experience to a position of need.
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