Cornerback Rayshad Williams will end up joining the Las Vegas Raiders instead of the Miami Dolphins after a once-in-a-lifetime mix-up.
Williams’ agent Ron Hawthorne told the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson that Williams’ camp believed it was talking to a Miami executive on Saturday night, but the executive had actually left the Dolphins and now works for the Raiders.
The Dolphins did end up offering Williams a training camp invite, but the Raiders offered him a full contract, leading to him choosing the AFC West squad.
Hawthorne now tells me that there was a mix-up and Williams is joining the Raiders. Here's what happened: A veteran Dolphins front office official left for the Raiders. Williams camp thought they were talking to Dolphins on the phone tonight, but the guy now works for the Raiders… https://t.co/gGk4tsQNsG
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 28, 2024
It’s a crazy scenario, and it just goes to show that movement from executives can get tricky for even agents when they are used to dealing with someone from a specific team.
Williams, who played collegiately for two seasons at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) before finishing his career at Texas Tech University (three seasons), will now get a chance to pursue his NFL dream with a Raiders team that is looking to turn things around after missing the playoffs in the 2023 season.
During his college career, Williams racked up 136 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one interception. He also recorded 26 passes defended and one fumble recovery.
While Miami didn’t land Williams, it has reportedly added some other undrafted players, including cornerback Storm Duck.
Former Louisville CB Storm Duck is signing with the #Dolphins, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2024
Duck, who spent the 2023 season with the University of Louisville after beginning his career at the University of North Carolina, recorded 135 total tackles and five interceptions in college.
Last season, Duck appeared in 13 games for Louisville and ended up recording his first and only sack in college.
The Dolphins also added defensive back Isaiah Johnson, who played collegiately at Syracuse University.
3️⃣1️⃣5️⃣ to 3️⃣0️⃣5️⃣
Isaiah Johnson is headed to the @MiamiDolphins #ProOrange 🍊 pic.twitter.com/jbMEyaXoNH
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) April 28, 2024
Johnson made 62 total tackles, forced a fumble and picked off a pass in the 2023 season for the Orange while also racking up seven passes defended. He and Duck will each have a chance to compete for a spot in Miami’s secondary after the team moved on from veteran Xavien Howard this offseason.
Those are just a couple of the undrafted free agents the Dolphins have added.
As for Williams, he seems to have landed in a better situation in Las Vegas (given his full contract) than if he had come to Miami. The youngster will certainly have an interesting story to share about how he started in the NFL given the post-draft mix-up.
