Defensive lineman Nick Williams saves career, likely exceeds Bears’ budget in free agency

Bears defensive lineman Nick Williams used to dread free agency. He suffered it, sweating through workouts in Alabama and hoping anyone would call.

Williams once watched an entire season slip away as his phone remained silent.

This time around will be different.

A 29-year-old journeyman, Williams saved his career with a breakout season in which he finished second on the team with six sacks. He won’t be a premier target, but there surely will be significant interest.

“I think I’m gonna have fun in free agency this year,” Williams said. “Obviously, I want to be back here. I want to be a Bear. I love this organization. They’ve afforded me a lot of great opportunities. I like this locker room. I like my teammates. We’ll see what happens.”

The Bears likely won’t be able to afford him.

With defensive linemen Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman set to earn a combined $22.6 million next season and the Bears absorbing a $26.6 million cap hit on outside linebacker Khalil Mack and $13.2 million on outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, they’re on a tight budget for any backups in their front seven.

No one could blame Williams for being opportunistic after playing on minimum contracts for seven seasons. He has $3.7 million in career earnings, according to Spotrac, but could get his first chance to be a starter and collect a commensurate salary.

It seemed impossible that he’d ever be in such an advantageous position when he went unsigned in 2017.

“The way it happened, nobody could’ve written a better story,” Williams said. “I just wanted to gain the respect of my teammates and let the organization and the coaches know that they made a good decision in bringing me in.”

While it probably won’t get them a discount, the Bears deserve credit for the find. Williams showed promise as a run-stopper and had the athleticism to develop pass-rush skills, and the Bears were enticed enough to give him a shot in the 2018 offseason.

He made the roster and, despite playing in only two games, impressed the coaching staff enough to get re-signed. His progress — and patience — put him in line to take over when Hicks went on short-term injured reserve in October. Williams played 503 snaps, about half of the Bears’ total and nearly triple his career high, and had 42 tackles, nine quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.

“He had size, he had length, he had power and he had athleticism,” Bears defensive line coach Jay Rodgers said. “How do you take those traits and steer him into being a productive player? Well, that happens over time. What Nick has been able to do is take advantage of his opportunity.”

He’s about to take advantage of another one, and those same traits will put him in high demand. And it’s no longer about potential after he spent all season proving he can play.

“Teams that cut you, that just put you out, you want to show them that they made a mistake,” Williams said. “I think I did that this year.”