Bengals Sign Georgia Safety Shawn Williams
By Jason Marcum
May 10, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals third round draft pick safety Shawn Williams (40) listens to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, right, during the Bengals rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
We announce the signing of third-round draft pick, S Shawn Williams, leaving TE Tyler Eifert as the only unsigned pick. #Bengals
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 24, 2013
Williams deal with #bengals expected to have cap number of $543,986 this season and total value of $2.716 million over four years
— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) May 24, 2013
Williams is also very durable, as he appeared in 14 games last year while making 14 starts, and was second on the team with 98 tackles and had 5.5 tackles-for-loss. He was also regarded as one of the most influential leaders on a Bulldogs team that came withing 4 yards of beating Alabama in the SEC Championship and ultimately playing for a National Championship. He was elected as the team’s defensive captain and was the recipient of the Coaches’ Leadership Award and the Frank Sinkwich Toughness Award.
He is projected to be the opening day starting strong safety.
The National Football Post’s Russ Lande spoke pretty highly of Williams leading up to the NFL Draft
"Safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams both worked out today, although Williams was clearly the better of the two. Rambo was smooth and fluid in most of the positional drills, although he struggled in the pedal, turn and run drill which accentuated the slight stiffness in his hips. Displaying soft hands and good ball skills, it was easy to see how Rambo made so many big plays in pass coverage. While Williams was not viewed as the same caliber athlete on film as Rambo, today he was quicker and decidedly better in all the drills. He did surprisingly well in the pedal, turn and run drills and made it look easy changing directions and flipping hips during the positional drills. Combining his strong workout today with his good college career and outstanding character and intangibles, a source at the workout told us that they think Williams could end up being a ten year starter in the NFL.COMPARES TO: Bernard Pollard, SS, Ravens — While perhaps not the elite athlete to counter today’s spread offenses, there will always be a spot for safeties with Pollard and Williams’ blend of size, physicality and toughness."
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