NFL free agents: Arizona Cardinals will let Dan Williams test the market

With NFL free agency around the corner, the Arizona Cardinals are preparing to be aggressive. However, they are not being aggressive in trying to retain nose tackle Dan Williams.

According to Mike Jurecki, the team will let Williams test the market.

Williams, a first round pick by Arizona in 2010, has been a staple in the team's rush defense. However, the Cardinals consider him a part-time player. He played in just over 40 percent of the team's defensive snaps, but that was with added playing time because of injuries on the defensive line.

Typically he has been used only in base defenses and would come off the field for nickel and dime sets. Had the line been healthier, he would have seen closer to 30 percent of the snaps, which was how much linebacker Kevin Minter played, as he played only in base sets as well, except for Week 17 when he played the entire game, filling in for an injured Larry Foote.

Letting Williams test the market is an interesting move. An able nose tackle is a huge necessity to any 3-4 defense and the Cardinals have uncertainty at the position. All they have is Alameda Ta'amu, and even he is a restricted free agent and barely played in 2014, despite supposedly being healthy.

However, with reports saying Williams could command $6 million per season, can the Cardinals pay that much to a player who will play a third of the team's snaps?

Of course, maybe he won't get the same interest and end up returning like Frostee Rucker and Matt Shaughnessy did last year.

But, generally speaking, when a younger player is allowed to test the market, it usually means he won't return.

How much would you be willing to pay Williams to come back?