Seattle Seahawks Cut Cary Williams After 3-Year, $18-Million Deal

The Seattle Seahawks have just released free-agent cornerback Cary Williams from their roster, NFL Media Insider is reporting. Williams, 30, had originally signed a three-year, $18-million contract, including a $3.5-million signing bonus during the offseason. He signed the deal with the Seahawks after the Eagles released him in early March.

Williams had trouble adjusting to the Seahawks’ system. He started 10 games for Seattle this season, but was benched in Week 11 after struggling with the San Francisco 49ers. DeShawn Shead took over for Williams the past two starts and has been an overall upgrade. He got four passes defensed and 10 combined tackles in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“[Williams] has been playing hard and tough, and trying to get it done and figure it out. But he’s new to the system and some of the principles,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. “You’ve just got to keep coming back to it and all that. So he’ll work really hard at it.”

The cornerback will leave Seattle with $7 million in guaranteed money. Half of this was the aforementioned bonus, and half came from William’s 2015 base salary.

PHOTO: SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 15: Michael Floyd #15 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a touchdown reception during the second quarter as Cary Williams #26 of the Seattle Seahawks defends at CenturyLink Field on November 15, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)