James Williams Sr.

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		29	52	1.0	—
2025		16	26	1.0	0
2024		13	26	0.0	0

Updated Jun 28, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Earning a C Contract Value Index, James Williams Sr.'s 4-year pact reflects how Tennessee valued the position market for a seventh-round developmental linebacker on a rookie deal. Through 16 games in the 2025 season, Williams Sr. logged 26 tackles and 1 sack—modest production that aligns with his below-average performance grade and depth-player status. At $1.03M average annual value, the contract is appropriately priced for a reserve-level linebacker with two seasons of limited contribution, carrying no franchise-distorting cap burden and fitting the typical rookie scale structure for players drafted in round seven. Williams Sr. arrives at age 23 as a second-year player still in the developmental window, but the absence of meaningful statistical gains or standout moments has done little to elevate his standing within Tennessee's linebacker rotation heading into 2026. Recent Titans activity—adding reinforcements at linebacker and across the defense—suggests the organization views him as a contingency depth piece rather than a core building block, a positioning that the modest CVI reflects. The contract carries manageable cap implications over its four-year term, but Williams Sr. faces a clear uphill climb to justify the investment through meaningful production or position scarcity.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where James's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Stacked against the linebacker field, James Williams Sr. grades out at a D+ performance level for Tennessee. The 23-year-old second-year player has failed to establish himself as a contributor at a position where consistency and instinctive play separate starters from depth, and his current trajectory suggests a reserve role remains his ceiling absent a significant leap in production. His 2025 season yielded 26 tackles across 16 games—a modest floor that reflects limited impact—while his lone sack and absence of forced fumbles underscores an inability to generate splash plays or disrupt opposing offenses at the point of attack. The fact that he appeared in all 16 games indicates durability, but snap count and role context matter; accumulated tackle totals without corresponding sack production or coverage disruption typically signal a box-filler rather than a consequential defender. With the Titans adding linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. to their roster this offseason, the organization's signal is clear: Williams Sr. remains a depth piece competing for reps rather than a foundational piece of the defensive future, and without marked improvement in either production or impact metrics, he faces an uphill battle to secure meaningful snaps in 2026.

How James Compares at the Position

James Williams Sr. ranks 240th of 339 graded linebackers by performance. That slots James between Shaun Dolac (D+) just ahead and Tomon Fox (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

James Williams Sr. carries minimal public recognition entering 2026, largely flying under the radar as a depth linebacker for the Tennessee Titans. The media framing around Williams Sr. reflects his limited production over two seasons, with just one sack and zero forced fumbles failing to generate any meaningful buzz or establish him as a notable contributor at the linebacker position. His modest $0.9M annual contract reinforces the organization's view of him as a reserve-level player rather than a core defensive component, which aligns with the broader public perception of his role. The absence of recent news coverage or standout performance metrics has left Williams Sr. without positive sentiment surrounding his standing, though he has managed to avoid any significant controversy or negative headlines. With a **D grade** for public perception, Williams Sr. faces an uphill battle to raise his profile and secure a more meaningful role in Tennessee's linebacker rotation heading into the new season.