Arizona Cardinals rookie Brandon Williams always will want to play on special teams

The Arizona Cardinals are betting on the athletic upside of third round pick Brandon Williams. He has only been a cornerback for less than a year and has some growing and developing to do. But if there is one thing about the athlete, he wants to be on the football field and wants to make an impact.

The team expects him to be an impact player on special teams. Head coach Bruce Arians called him "one of the best special teams players in the country" and spoke of how one of the things the Cardinals know he can do is cover kicks.

Special teams is going to be something Williams wants to play, regardless of how he develops as a cornerback.

"(Playing on special teams) is a very important thing," he told reporters when he was introduced to the media. "Even if I become a starter, I still want to play on special teams because I want to make an impact on this football team."

One of the reasons why Williams made the switch fro running back to cornerback was the possibility of starting and playing more. He took on the challenge.

That competitive fire will serve him well as he develops as a corner and it will help him to make an impact while he is developing, even if he isn't in the defensive rotation.

NFL players tend to move further from special teams as they become more important as starters. But there are some players who stay in both roles. Patrick Peterson returns punts and was on the kickoff team last year, in addition to his duties of being a shutdown corner. Justin Bethel is making the transition from top special teams player to doing that and starting. Richard Sherman also does it in Seattle.

Williams wants to do the same thing. And that is the type of football player you want on your team -- someone who wants to be on the field all the time and who wants to make plays.