Eagles' Greedy Williams Plans to Make Fans Happy by Living Up to Nickname

The new Philadelphia CB is looking forward to learning from Darius Slay and James Bradberry

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles have suffered significant attrition in free agency, par for the course for any successful team in the NFL.

That sentiment was not true at cornerback, however, where the NFC champions were able to convince second-team All-Pro James Bradberry to take a little less money to run it back and veteran Pro Bowl selection Darius Slay to agree to an amended deal that lightened the organization's salary-cap load.

Despite that embarrassment of riches outside the numbers, it didn't stop the Eagles from adding more talent in the form of 2019 second-round pick Greedy Williams, a former LSU standout who didn't live up to some pretty lofty expectations in Cleveland but is still young and gifted enough to turn things around.

Williams, 25, made a one-year deal official at the NovaCare Complex Tuesday and was introduced to the city while wearing a remembrance to his great-grandmother Irma Williams.

“She was the heart of the family,” Williams said when asked about the pendant around his neck. “She kept everybody together, so I just wear her around. Wherever I go, she is with me.

"She is my motivation to keep me pushing every day.”

Pushing will be a necessity in Philadelphia, which arguably has the best trio of CBs in the NFL when you add star slot CB Avonte Maddox to Slay, a team captain, and Bradberry.

“There were a lot of prayers, and it was a great fit,” Williams said of his decision to move toward Philadelphia. “I just wanted to be somewhere where guys compete and win.

"It kind of fits me and who I am.”

Williams, a one-time All-SEC CB, noted that he was close to Eagles' receivers A.J. Brown, who went to Ole Miss, and DeVonta Smith, a former Alabama star, but Slay had already been a mentor during the pre-draft process when Williams was set to enter the NFL.

Now Williams is looking forward to sitting under the learning tree of two of the savviest outside CBs in the game.

“It’s my first time being under veterans with years under their belts,” Williams said. “They definitely can teach you a couple of things. It’s just about being a pro. It doesn’t always have to be about football. It’s just about being a pro and how to maintain in this league.”

At 6-foot-2 and with the speed to run with the top receivers, Williams was always expected to settle outside and that will be the case in Philadelphia where the Eagles hope a year interning behind Slay and Bradberry may turn into a potential starting opportunity down the road.

The Eagles have a new defensive coordinator in Sean Desai and are about to hire former Eastern Michigan secondary coach Taver Johnson to coach the secondary, according to an NFL source.

“We talked about a little ball,” Williams said of meeting Desai. “It was exciting. He’s a great guy, and I’m ready to work with him. I know it is his first year coming in, so we will both have a fresh start. I’m excited. What he was saying, you should be really looking forward to a great defense.”

And Williams plans on being 'Greedy' in that great defense.

"Gotta get them picks man," he said. "... Keep that (Greed name alive. Make plays. Keep the fans happy, make everyone happy."

-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen