As the 2025 NFL season approaches, one expert NFL writer has Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams as a player to look out for this season.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra listed Williams as a candidate to make his first Pro bowl in 2025. He noted Williams’ role as a slot corner last season as a key reason in why Williams could be a Pro Bowler this season.
Williams flew under the radar as one of the top slot corners in the NFL last season, demonstrating the ability to stick stride for stride with shifty wideouts and generating a -8.6 completion percentage over expected, second among all cornerbacks last season (behind only Kamari Lassiter). As slot corners rise in importance and standing, players like Williams should garner more attention. In 2024, he allowed a completion rate of 55.9% and -5.1 receptions over expected, both tops among all slot corners (minimum of 300 coverage snaps), and his -0.20 EPA per target tied him for sixth.
Williams is coming off a 2024 season where he registered 58 tackles with nine passes defensed and two interceptions.
Patra added that while Williams’ tackling skills could use improvement, his coverage skills are there to receive the accolade.
Given the proximity to the run game, Williams needs to improve his tackling and fits, but his coverage skills against agile slot receivers who usually generate easy pitches and catches are already Pro Bowl-worthy.
How does Garrett Williams look going into 2025?
Williams headlines a young cornerback room, which includes second-year pros Max Melton and Elijah Jones and rookies Will Johnson and Denzel Burke, that look to make an impact for the Cardinals defense this season.
The Cardinals cornerback depth has been dealt some tough blows this offseason with veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting and third-year pro Starling Thomas V being placed on injured reserve with season-ending injuries.