Williams Follows Brown To Seahawks Steelers Defensive Back Signs Four-Year, $8.7-Million Deal

When the Seattle Seahawks signed Chad Brown, they sent a signal. Willie Williams got the message.

Williams, a free agent cornerback and Brown’s former teammate with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday night agreed to a four-year, $8.7-million dollar contract that includes a $3 million signing bonus.

The acquisition of Williams came one day after Brown signed a six-year, $24 million deal with the Seahawks that included a $7 million signing bonus, and the Pro Bowl linebacker gets an assist in the signing of Williams.

Williams was the Seahawks’ first choice among free agent cornerbacks, but the team had been unable to convince him to make a weekend visit. That changed Friday, when Brown called his teammate and urged him to come to Seattle.

Williams arrived Saturday and then agreed to sign with the Seahawks rather than visit the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.

In the first three days of free agency, the Seahawks already have filled their two top priorities. Their success coincides with the involvement of Football Northwest, the group representing Mercer Island billionaire Paul Allen, who has an option to buy the team.