Jamaal Williams of the Green Bay Packers has a winning contract and an uncertain future with the team that recruited him in 2017, but there is no doubt where he would like to spend the rest of his NFL career.
Williams told NFL Now via NFL.com that he loves Green Bay and prefers to stay with the Packers for a long time.
“I’m thinking of a free agency, but I’d really love to be just a Packer my whole life, if I could,” said Williams. “They gave me my first chance. I love Green Bay. It is a great place to be. “
Williams also recognized the commercial side of the equation and said he is ready to test the free agency if the Packers do not extend an offer.
“But you know, things happen. If things don’t happen, then I am ready to try to join the free agency and show my skills to any team that is willing to take that risk with me. I’m ready to go, man. I’m ready to play, have fun, be myself, just bring my spark to any team that is willing to give me that chance, ”said Williams.
A choice in the fourth round of BYU in 2017, Williams played his entire career with the Packers, appearing in 60 of 64 possible games with 20 matches. He won 2,946 yards in total, including 1,985 running yards, and scored 18 touchdowns in total.
Williams ran for at least 400 yards and won at least 600 total yards in each of his first four seasons.
Teammates and coaches love Williams’ energy as a person and versatility as a player.
The Packers are currently trapped in the salary cap and can let Williams test the open market before making a real effort to bring it back to Green Bay.
Other decisions must also be made.
Last May, back runner Aaron Jones – who is also scheduled to be a free agent – said he would love to be a “packer for life”. The team has yet to sign Jones, the starter and the other half of a productive and effective running back duo in recent seasons.
The Packers recruited AJ Dillon in the second round of last year’s draft, probably as a replacement if Williams or Jones were to step down.