Saints Rumors: Marcus Williams landing with Atlanta would be a nightmare scenario
By Kristen Wong
Could New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Williams leave the team this offseason?
The Saints are known for their miraculous tinkering of cap space that has allowed them to keep big names around.
Come 2022, when Williams enters free agency, the Saints will need to make an important decision on whether or not they want to sign him. Williams has proven he’s worth a hefty price tag, but arguably so is Terron Armstead, whose contract has yet to be extended.
PFF recently revealed a list of the top 75 players expected to enter free agency in 2022. For the New Orleans Saints, Marcus Williams made the list.
"The Saints have prioritized free-agent spending and drafting in the secondary, so we’re not suggesting Williams is playing in a weak group, but he has graded above 70.0 for five years in a row now as the free safety manning the deep third of the field. He’ll still be just 26 years old in Week 1 of 2022 after playing on the franchise tag and should have offers to become one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL."
In 13 games played this season, Williams has recorded 64 total tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes defended.
Should the New Orleans Saints pay to keep Marcus Williams around?
This is the fifth-straight season that Williams has nabbed two picks or more, and he continues to impress as one of the Saints’ most talented secondary members.
The free safety has excelled in all types of coverage, and PFF suggested that Williams might fit particularly well in Atlanta or Houston, where the team’s defense plays with two high safeties.
Should Williams choose to leave for the Saints’ division rivals, New Orleans would get a wild slap in the face.
The Saints are already competing with the Falcons neck to neck for the last NFC playoff seed — the elusive postseason berth could go to whoever wins in Week 18, when the Saints play the Falcons for their final season game.
New Orleans hardly need any more competition in the NFC South, and seeing their best free safety leave for another division team (at least not the Bucs) would be devastating.
Next. 4 players the New Orleans Saints should keep in free agency. dark
Hopefully NOLA can figure out a way to keep Williams around. God knows they’ll need all the defensive help they can get next season.