DENVER --- Sylvester Williams never dreamed of playing in the NFL. He never even dreamed of playing in high school.
He grew up poor in Jefferson City, Mo. His family struggled to make a living. Their house burned down. They scrabbled together money to fix up a car. It was later stolen. Williams went to work in the Modine Manufacturing plant after high school for $400 a week. It put money in his pocket, and gave him purpose. But a coach took him to a college football game, changing his life. A junior college career led to a scholarship at North Carolina and eventually, a spot with the Denver Broncos as a first-round pick in the 2013 draft.
His journey now includes another team.
Williams turned down a Broncos' offer to stay, agreeing to a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. Williams confirmed the deal to Denver7 on Friday night.
Williams enjoyed his best season in 2015, helping the Broncos reach the Super Bowl with a gnarly rush defense. Given more snaps, Williams never found his traction last season as opponents rushed for 130.3 yards per game compared to 83 the previous year. His departure, while anticipated, leaves the Broncos seeking defensive line help after losing out Tampa Bay for Chris Baker.
The Broncos could lose another veteran. The Los Angeles Rams are making a strong push to sign defensive back Kayvon Webster, a special teams ace the past two seasons. Webster told Denver7 he's planning to visit the Rams, and is ironing out the exact date. While he admittedly loves paying in Denver, Webster is looking for more playing time.
His teammates believe he's ready to start. He could find a nice landing spot in Los Angeles, reuniting with former Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
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