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Cardinals CB had highest-graded zone coverage in 2024 season

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 7:49 PM ET

GLENDALE – Much of the media attention is garnered to the new faces on the Arizona Cardinals defense. General manager Monti Ossenfort signed big name Pro Bowlers like Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell to be the marquee names for the defense. However, the most important piece for next year’s defense is the continue dominance of third-year cornerback Garrett Williams. Despite Arizona’s defensive struggles, not of which were Williams fault, the 24-year-old had the highest-graded zone coverage for the 2024 season according to Pro Football Focus.

Cardinals Williams lands at top spot in PFF rankings:

The best CBs in zone coverage last season pic.twitter.com/4dPMePWCFU

— PFF (@PFF) July 3, 2025

Williams is ahead of other All-Pro cornerbacks like Pat Surtain and Trent McDuffie, while being the second-youngest on the list. After being drafted 72nd overall in 2023, Williams has been an underrated piece of the team’s defense. In his rookie season, he appeared in nine games and only had one interception and two pass deflections. Departures and injuries opened up a slot for him the following year, where Williams would exploded for two interceptions, nine pass deflections and one force fumble.

Under the leadership of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, Williams has really found his footing of being one the premier defensive backs in the league. Injuries to Sean Murphy-Bunting has now opened the door for Williams to be possibility CB1 for Rallis’ defense. However, the Cardinals newest addition in 2nd-round pick Will Johnson will be gunning for that role.

The competitive battle between Williams and Johnson is a great problem for Arizona to figure out before the start of next season. Especially with Sweat and Campbell going after the quarterback, it makes the secondary’s job much easier.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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