Steelers sign Vince Williams to 3-year deal
As reported by their official team website, the Steelers signed reserve inside linebacker Vince Williams on Tuesday to a new three-year contract through the 2018 season.
The 26-year old Williams was drafted by Pittsburgh out of Florida State in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was immediately thrown into the fire in his rookie year, as he started 11 games after a season-ending injury to veteran Larry Foote left the Steelers depleted at the inside linebacker spot.
Williams recorded 40 tackles that season, before resuming his backup role, after Pittsburgh made Ryan Shazier its number one pick in 2014.
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However, Williams has proven to be a valuable reserve; he’s appeared in all but one regular season game during his three years with the Steelers, and he’s been an active member on special teams.
Obviously, any three-year deal that involves an inside linebacker who’s not named Lawrence Timmons is going to lead to speculation about the veteran’s future with the Steelers.
Timmons, 30, is in the final year of a contract that will pay him a base salary of $8.75 million in 2016 and will count over $15 million against the Steelers salary cap.
Because of Timmons’ contract, there was talk before the season that he could be a cap casualty. Now, after the announcement of Williams’ new deal, there’s sure to be assumptions by many that the 2007 first round pick out of Florida State (head coach Mike Tomlin’s very first draft pick) won’t be here back for the 2017 season.
The Steelers have two more preseason games to go before talk of contracts and salary caps dominate the news.
As for Williams’ new contract, no financial terms were disclosed.
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