BUILDING BLOCK
Brandon Williams ready to take his place at heart of ‘D’
The Ravens have always made a point of investing long-term dollars to keep essential homegrown players, from Ray Lewis to Haloti Ngata to Joe Flacco.
In March, nose tackle Brandon Williams became the latest member of that exclusive club, signing a five-year, $52.5 million contract, with $27.5 million guaranteed.
Williams, 28, might seem an unusual addition to a group that includes future Hall of Famers, Super Bowl Most Valuable Players and multiyear All-Pros. He was a third-round draft pick out of Missouri INSIDE: Preseason opener Southern and has just 41⁄2 sacks in four seasons. He plays one of the least glamorous positions in the league, and the closest he has come to the Pro Bowl was a second-alternate selection after last season.
Yet, in an offseason when they also signed safety Tony Jefferson and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, the Ravens made their biggest splurge to hold on to the 6-foot-1, 340-pound fireplug at the heart of their No. 5 run defense. Why? For linebacker Terrell Suggs, dean of the Ravens defense, the answer lies 275 miles north of Baltimore, where all-world running back Le’Veon Bell takes handoffs for the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers.
“You definitely want a run-stopping nose guard to help you with one of the premier backs in the league,” Suggs said. “This organization is great with keeping Ravens as Ravens. Brandon Williams has proved himself. It’s good to have a Raven stay a Raven.”