After beginning his career in Arizona, defensive tackle Dan Williams joined the Silver and Black in March:
Where He's Been
Originally drafted in the first round (No. 26 overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, Williams spent the first five seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals.
During his years in Arizona, Williams appeared in 70 games, making 40 starts, and established himself as an anchor for the Cardinals defensive line.
Along with individual achievement, Williams and the Cardinals also enjoyed success as a team, going 11-5 in 2014 and earning a Wild Card berth.
However, that's all behind him now, and he's squarely focused on helping the Raiders win.
"It was exciting," Williams said after joining the Raiders in March. "The people they brought in just pretty much made the decision easy for me, and actually meeting everybody upstairs, especially when I sat down and talked with [defensive line] Coach [Jethro] Franklin, [defensive coordinator] Coach [Ken] Norton and also [Head Coach Jack Del Rio], I was like, 'okay, I fit in.' In the end they made it easy for me."
Photos of new Raiders defensive tackle, Dan Williams.
University of Tennessee (2005-09)
Arizona Cardinals (2010-2014)
Oakland Raiders (2015)
Team First
As an interior lineman, Williams doesn't necessarily have numbers that jump off the stat sheet. He's also one of the players on a defense that doesn't get a lot of credit or notoriety, but that's fine by him as long as the team is successful.
"My biggest thing is, I'm a team guy," Williams said. "If I can put pressure on the quarterback and he throws it away and it prevents a touchdown, I might not get credit for that, or it might not go down as a sack, but I'm cool with that. If I'm in the game and [Justin] Tuck gets five sacks, and I forced the quarterback to step up so he could get those, I'm just as happy. If he gets a sack, the Oakland Raiders get a sack. I'm 100 percent a team guy. It's just about success."
The Bottom Line
The Raiders brought Williams in to anchor the middle of the defensive line and provide an interior pass rush to the quarterback. He will also be expected to help provide support in run defense.
Entering his sixth NFL season, the Raiders will look to Williams to share some of his experience and mentor fellow interior lineman, defensive tackle Justin Ellis.
"He [Ellis] kind of reminds me a little of myself," Williams said. "The sky's the limit for him. I'm going to be an open book. Teach him everything I know because we're all trying to accomplish that same goal which is to hold up that trophy at the end of the season."
