5 not-so-secret weapons on the Jaguars roster that will turn heads in 2023

No. 4 Not-so-secret Jaguars weapon that will surprise in 2023: Darious Williams, CB

Throughout most of the offseason, cornerback was brought up as a potential need for the Jaguars. While some of the chatter was centered on the nickel spot, some analysts believed Jacksonville needed someone to line up opposite the ascending Tyson Campbell, who gave up less than 10.0 yards per reception last year.

However, one close look at the roster showed that the Jaguars already have a corner to pair with Campbell. That's Darious Williams, who signed a three-year worth $30 million last year but could've probably gotten a bigger deal somewhere else. Early in the season, the Jags wanted to keep Williams in the slot. And even after Shaquill Griffin was placed on the Injured Reserve list, Williams remained there.

The truth is that Williams wasn't very good in the slot but once the coaching staff chose to move him to the perimeter, he fared much better. He gave up a 66.7 percent completion rate at nickel but after he moved to the perimeter, he only allowed six receptions for 46 yards in the last five games of the year. On top of that, he led the team with 16 passes defensed.

You could point out that Williams didn't make any big plays last year and you would be right. On the other hand, he didn't give up many and that's worth recognizing. Surprisingly, Williams' contract was dubbed one of the worst in the league in 2023. However, his $12.5 million seems like a reasonable price to pay for a starting cornerback, one that became a key cog toward the end of the 2022 season.