Trevor Williams is a former NFL cornerback who has had an interesting career in the league. He played college football at Penn State and was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Williams quickly became a starter for the Chargers and had a solid rookie season, but his career took a downturn due to injuries and inconsistent play.
In 2021, Williams signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was released in May. We will examine what happened to Trevor Williams and analyze his prospects for the future in the NFL.
Background on Trevor Williams
Williams’ College Career
Trevor Williams played college football at Penn State from 2012 to 2015. He started out as a wide receiver but switched to cornerback in his sophomore year. Williams had a solid college career, recording 84 tackles, 22 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions in his four seasons at Penn State.
Williams’ Nfl Career
Williams was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He quickly impressed the coaches with his athleticism and work ethic, and he earned a starting spot at cornerback in his rookie season.
Williams played in 15 games in 2016, starting in 12 of them, and recorded 56 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions.
Unfortunately, Williams’ career took a downturn due to injuries and inconsistent play. He missed the entire 2019 season due to a knee injury and was released by the Chargers in October 2019.
He then signed with the Arizona Cardinals but only played in one game before being released in November 2019. In 2020, Williams signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but was released during training camp.
Williams’ Strengths and Weaknesses as a Player
Williams is a physical cornerback who has good size (6’0″, 191 pounds) and speed. He is able to play press coverage and is effective in disrupting the timing of receivers at the line of scrimmage. He also has good ball skills and is able to make plays on the ball in the air.
However, Williams can struggle with his technique and footwork, leading to him getting beat on double moves and other route combinations. He can also struggle with tackling at times and needs to improve in this area.
Overall, Williams has the potential to be a solid contributor at the cornerback position but needs to refine his technique and consistency.
Williams’ 2021 Offseason
Signing With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Practice Squad
After spending the 2020 season out of the NFL, Williams was signed to the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 6, 2021. This gave him an opportunity to showcase his abilities to the Steelers coaching staff and potentially earn a spot on the active roster.
Signing a Reserve/futures Contract With the Steelers
On January 14, 2021, the Steelers signed Williams to a reserve/futures contract, which allowed him to officially become part of the team’s offseason roster. This contract meant that Williams would be given a chance to compete for a spot on the Steelers’ active roster during training camp and preseason.
Release From the Steelers in May 2021
Unfortunately, Williams’ time with the Steelers was short-lived. On May 7, 2021, the Steelers released Williams, which ended his brief stint with the team.
The reason for Williams’ release was not officially announced by the team, but it is likely that the Steelers simply felt that Williams did not fit into their plans for the upcoming season.
Overall, Williams’ 2021 offseason was a mixed bag. While he was given an opportunity to join an NFL team and compete for a roster spot, he ultimately did not make the cut and was released before the start of the regular season.
Williams’ Release From the Steelers
Why the Steelers Released Williams
The exact reason for Williams’ release from the Steelers is not known, as the team did not provide a public explanation for the decision. However, it is likely that the Steelers simply felt that Williams did not perform well enough during his time with the team to justify a spot on the active roster.
Additionally, the Steelers have a number of young cornerbacks on their roster, which may have made it difficult for Williams to earn playing time.
Evaluation of Williams’ Performance During His Time With the Steelers
Williams’ performance during his time with the Steelers was not extensively evaluated due to his limited time with the team.
He did not appear in any games for the Steelers during the 2021 preseason, which suggests that he was not able to make much of an impact during training camp.
It is possible that the Steelers felt that Williams was not performing at the level they expected or needed for their team.
Williams’ Future Prospects in the Nfl
Williams’ release from the Steelers is a setback in his quest to establish himself as a starting cornerback in the NFL. However, he is still a relatively young player with some experience at the professional level.
If he is able to refine his technique and improve his consistency, he could potentially earn a spot on another team’s roster in the future.
Williams may need to consider options such as joining another team’s practice squad or looking for opportunities in a different league, such as the CFL or XFL, to continue developing his skills and gain more playing time.
Overall, Williams still has the potential to become a solid contributor at the cornerback position if he is able to overcome the obstacles he has faced in his career thus far.
Trevor Williams’ NFL Career Stats
| Year | Team | Games Played | Games Started | Total Tackles | Interceptions | Passes Defensed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | San Diego | 13 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles | 16 | 15 | 71 | 2 | 13 |
| 2018 | Los Angeles | 6 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | Arizona | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | Philadelphia | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | Philadelphia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Williams did not record any statistics during his brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 offseason.
FAQs
What were Trevor Williams’ most notable achievements during his NFL career?
While Williams’ career was relatively short, he did achieve some notable accomplishments during his time in the league. Perhaps his most notable achievement was earning a starting role with the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2017 season, in which he played in all 16 games and recorded 2 interceptions and 13 passes defended.
Did Trevor Williams suffer any significant injuries during his career?
Yes, injuries were a major factor in Williams’ career. During the 2018 season, he suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss a significant portion of the season. He also dealt with injuries during his time with the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles, which likely contributed to his struggles to earn playing time.
Has Trevor Williams received any accolades for his play on the field?
While Williams has not received any major individual awards or honors, he was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team following the 2016 season. This recognition was based on his strong performance during his first year in the league.
What sets Trevor Williams apart from other cornerbacks in the NFL?
One of Williams’ strengths as a cornerback is his speed and agility. He has demonstrated the ability to cover some of the fastest and most elusive wide receivers in the league, and his quickness and reaction time have helped him make plays on the ball. Additionally, Williams has shown a willingness to play physically and use his size and strength to disrupt opposing receivers’ routes.
Conclusion
Trevor Williams is a talented cornerback who has faced a number of challenges in his NFL career. Despite being undrafted out of college, Williams was able to earn a starting role with the Los Angeles Chargers and showed promise as a young player in the league.
However, injuries and other factors have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Williams’ brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 offseason gave him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot, but he was ultimately released before the start of the regular season.
While this is a setback in his career, Williams is still a young player with potential, and he may be able to find another opportunity in the NFL or another professional league.
With his skillset and determination, Williams could potentially become a valuable contributor to a team in the future if he is able to stay healthy and continue developing his skills.
