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In news we might have missed from Monday, post-draft, former VT running back Ryan Williams has been released by the Arizona Cardinals as a glut of cheap talent in their backfield has forced him out. Here is a capsule just completed by Gifted Idiot earlier today.
Ryan Williams –RB
Experience: 3 years, all with the Cardinals
Contract: In 2011, Williams signed a 4-year, $5 million rookie deal with the Cardinals that included a $2,141,768 signing bonus. Williams was released by the Cardinals on May 12, 2014. If picked up in free agency, he is scheduled to make $1,007,832 + $50,000 workout bonus in 2014. The move will cost the Cardinals $535,000 in dead money against the cap.
Scoop: Williams was drafted by the Cardinals in the 2nd round (#38 overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Hampered by knee and shoulder injuries, he has only 5 career NFL appearances to his credit. He was on the Cardinals’ active roster for the entire 2013 season despite being inactive for all 16 games. In the NFL of years past, Williams would have no trouble catching on, despite his injury concerns. However, in this NFL where RB's have become expendable and "steals" are had for late-round draft picks and paid in peanuts, nothing is for certain.
With Andre Ellington, Jonothan Dwyer, and Stepfan Taylor on the depth chart, Lil' Sweetness was deemed replaceable. Suffering the ruptured patella tendon his rookie preseason took away a lot of his physical advantages, and then shoulder injuries compounded matters. Williams was a threat to catch the ball, break tackles, and even picked up the blitzers very well as a blocking back. Here's hoping he can land on his feet someplace this Spring.