Connor

Williams

It’s a rather sudden move from the veteran center. He has started all nine games at center for the Seahawks this year after joining the team on a one-year deal in the offseason. Something must have clicked for Williams during the team’s Week 10 bye that let him know it was time. Drafted by the Cowboys in 2018, Williams is hanging up the cleats with 86 starts across three teams to his name.

Williams took visits with the plan to sign by training camp and now joins the Seahawks on a one-year deal. He spent last season with the Dolphins, though he suffered an ACL tear to end his season in Week 14. The 27-year-old has been one of the league’s better interior offensive linemen during his time with the Cowboys and Dolphins. PFF ranks him fourth among centers since 2022, with a 86.4 PFF grade. The Seahawks take a chance on his recovery, giving him $3 million guaranteed on a deal worth up to $6 million for 2024. Williams will join the starting center competition when healthy.

Williams, who has spent the last two years with the Dolphins, suffered a torn ACL in Week 14. The veteran center earned a solid 86.5 PFF blocking grade over the nine games he appeared in last year and has been among the league’s top centers for the last several seasons. Center Evan Brown, who led the Seahawks’ offense with 955 offensive snaps, is now in Arizona, leaving a massive hole for Williams to fill if he signs with the team.

Williams tore his ACL as a member of the Dolphins in December of last year. He started nine games for Miami last season after starting 17 games in 2022. Starting his career with the Cowboys, Williams has been a starting interior offensive lineman for most of his career. He is currently a free agent and is in discussions with multiple teams for 2024. Schefter reports that Williams expects to be ready for the start of the season and plans to pick a new team before training camp.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced the news on Tuesday, and it’s another big blow to an offensive line that’s already without LT Terron Armstead and OG Robert Hunt. McDaniel also hinted that the Dolphins may look to add a free agent center as they’re now down to just one healthy starter from their Week 1 offensive line. That’s a major reason why Tua Tagovailoa took five sacks against the Titans and was flustered by constant pressure throughout the game. McDaniel did say that Armstead was closer to returning then he was last week, but mentioned that Hunt was still week-to-week, so it seems like the Dolphins will remain short-handed on the offensive line when they take on a stout Jets defense this weekend.

Williams was ruled out shortly after being listed as questionable. A Tennessee defender landed on the back of Williams’s legs early in the first quart. Williams came up limping and immediately went into the medical tent. Liam Eichenberg slid into center after Williams went down. Tua Tagovailoa and Eichenberg botched a snap that was recovered by the Titans on the same drive.

Williams is expected to play but may not be ready for a full workload. Liam Eichenberg has made three starts filling in for Williams and could continue to start in Week 8.

Terron Armstead and Salvon Ahmed are active. Liam Eichenberg is expected to man the pivot for the biggest game of Week 4.

Williams reportedly wants a re-negotiation on a two-year deal signed last offseason that contains little in the way of guaranteed money this year. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the absence was not excused but that the two sides are in contact. Williams will be fined for skipping practices at Miami’s discretion.

We first heard of the ex-Cowboys left guard’s potential position switch early last month. “I think I’ve really enjoyed this position,” Williams said of center. “I think definitely in this offense, in this scheme, playing center brings out my strengths. They’ve been very patient with me learning the position and learning the ins and outs with it as growing pains. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the transition.” The fact that Williams has been manning the middle for all of OTAs so far strongly suggests this is something the Dolphins are serious about and not just experimenting with as they get closer to camp.