Veteran safety Shawn Williams joins Cardinals on one-year deal

The Arizona Cardinals are leaving little doubt they're looking to do more than compete for just a playoff berth later this year. 

Per the NFL's official website, the Cardinals have agreed to a one-year deal with safety Shawn Williams. Williams entered the NFL when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft and spent the last eight seasons only with Cincinnati. 

Across his Bengals tenure, the veteran who turns 30 years old in May appeared in 119 regular-season games and made 61 starts. He recorded 110 total tackles and five interceptions in 2018 and then followed that with 114 tackles and one interception the following year. With the Bengals rebuilding, however, his role on defense decreased during his final season with the organization. 

On its own, the Cardinals signing Williams to a "prove it" contract would register a small blip on the radar. However, Arizona generated headlines ahead of the start of the new NFL year by signing three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Pro J.J. Watt, and the Cardinals also added one-time Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler. 

One name missing is wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, who still hasn't said if he wants to play an 18th season or retire. Arizona agreed to a one-year contract with former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green earlier in free agency.