Connor Williams is from Coppell, and grew up a literal football toss away from the former headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys in Valley Ranch.
The 2018 second-round pick began his career in Dallas before cashing in on a free agency move to the Miami Dolphins. … and in Miami developed a talent for not only playing guard, but also center, the position at which he became a standout for the AFC power. He’s in free agency now, he’s just 26 years old, and fully available, but getting no bites. Why? The former University of Texas standout is just a few months removed from an ACL injury that now clouds his availability for the 2024 season. Add it all up – and include the coming NFL Draft search for “The Next Tyron Smith” and “The Next Travis Frederick” – and maybe with only a hint of sarcasm, one NFL source tells CowboysSI.com of the idea of Dallas reuniting with Williams: “That’d be a typical (Cowboys) signing.” OK, maybe a lot of sarcasm.
Williams agent Drew Rosenhaus recently did a Miami radio interview in which he acknowledged the long rehab road ahead. “I do think that we’re going to be very methodical and take our time relative to the contract,” Rosenhaus said. “A lot of it may be predicated on how Connor is feeling physically. He may not be a player that signs at the very start of free agency. He may take more time based on how he’s feeling physically.” The agent added, “Connor’s situation has a you know a degree of uncertainty that’s going to be tied to how he’s feeling. And really, we’ll just take it one day at a time once we get into the offseason.” That remark has led to understandable speculation that Williams – who the Dolphins would like to bring back – might retire from the NFL. But at 26? And playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level, as AllDolphins at SI notes, before the injury?
It is also understandable that a team might bargain-hunt here and bet on the come on a Williams recovery. And yes, Dallas is traditionally in on such bets … especially if they are “cost-effective” in what Cowboys COO Stephen Jones calls “an inflated market” that is early-days NFL free agency. Connor Williams can be somebody’s long-term answer at center. … but it might take a long time for him to get back there. And maybe the Cowboys will envision him being worth that wait.
Copyright © 2024
Leave a Reply