Darious Williams rated as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks during the 2023 season statistically speaking. That didn’t prevent the Jacksonville Jaguars from releasing the former UAB standout on Tuesday.

With a season remaining on his three-year, $30 million contract with his hometown team, Williams became a salary-cap casualty. By cutting the cornerback, Jacksonville sliced $11.5 million off its contract obligations for the 2024 season.

The Jaguars released two other defensive starters on Tuesday – defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi and safety Rayshwan Jenkins – for an additional $8.65 million in salary-cap savings.

During the 2023 season, Williams recorded 53 tackles, four interceptions (with one returned for a touchdown) and 19 passes defended.

Williams held quarterbacks throwing his way to a passing-efficiency rating of 63.9 as he allowed 55 completions on 100 passes for 624 yards and two touchdowns. Williams joined cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed of the Kansas City Chiefs and Paulson Adebo of the New Orleans Saints as the only NFL players in 2023 to post a passer rating of less than 64 while being targeted at least 100 times.

Williams entered the NFL undrafted in 2018, and after playing three games with the Baltimore Ravens, he was waived.

Claimed by the Los Angeles Rams off the waiver wire, Williams became a regular late in the 2019 season. Williams led the Rams with eight tackles and broke up a pass in Los Angeles’ 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022.

A month later, Williams signed his three-year deal with Jacksonville as a free agent.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.