Eagles Consider Connor Williams to Fill Jason Kelce’s Shoes
Miami Dolphins center Connor Williams is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and with team legend Jason Kelce retiring, one analyst believes the Philadelphia Eagles should replace Williams.Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder named Williams Philly’s top free agent this offseason, and for good reason.”With Kelce likely to retire, Philadelphia has huge shoes to fill in the middle of their offensive line.
Even if Cam Jurgens or Landon Dickerson slide to center, targeting Williams would go a long way because he also has experience playing guard,” Holder wrote January 10th. Offensive linemen in free agency after , having been rated well by Pro Football Focus this season. Granted, he’s coming off a torn ACL, so the doctors would have to check, but he’d be a great addition to keep the Birds strong in the trenches.”Eagles 2024 Free Agency: What Projected Connor Williams Could SolveAs Holder claimed, Williams suffered tore an ACL this season.
The injury occurred in Week 14 in the Dolphins’ loss to the Tennessee Titans. It usually takes at least nine months to recover from a torn ACL, but every playerDoes the injury significantly affect his contract negotiations will probably depend on how his recovery progresses. Spotrac projected Williams to sign a five-year contract worth $68 million ($13.5 million per year).
Pro Football Focus’ projection is significantly lower due to the injury projection, which forces him to sign something more than that at one year, $6 million.Regardless of the amount he signs for, the veteran forward’s next contract will likely include some health and performance incentives.Connor Williams played well before injury in 2023The Eagles know Williams well because he played his first four seasons with their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. A second-round pick by Dallas in 2018, Williams played 57 games (51 starts) with the Cowboys before beginning a two-year stint with the Dolphins in 2022.Williams has a versatile game that will certainly be attractive to the Eagles.
He played 3,312 snaps at left guard in Dallas, and when he signed with Miami, he moved to center, where he performed even better.In two seasons and 26 games with the Dolphins, the 6-foot-3, 317-pound center played 1,553 snaps at the position.
In 17 starts last year, Williams surrendered 3.0 sacks, 2 QB hits and 10 hurries on 676 pass blocking snaps, per PFF. In an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, he surrendered 1.0 sacks, a lone QB hit, and 4 pressures (280 pass blocks).It is entirely debatable if Kelce decides to continue playing.
The Eagles legend, who turned 36 in November, told analyst James Palmer during the 2023 regular season that “it’s going to be here pretty soon,” referring to his career in Philly. Kelce considered retiring after the 2022 season, so it’s reasonable to expect him to do so again.If he does, Williams could be the team’s best option..
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