Saints predicted to keep Marcus Williams this offseason

The New Orleans Saints will retain one of their top defensive playmakers, Marcus Williams, for the 2022 season per one media outlet’s projection.

As free agency looms around the corner, many of the league’s stars could find new homes including Bengals’ Jessie Bates, Packers’ Davante Adams, and Bucs’ Chris Godwin, to name a few.

The Saints may be willing to let offensive tackle Terron Armstead walk, but the team has more reason to hold onto safety Marcus Williams, a much younger player in his prime.

PFF’s Arjun Menon revealed his landing spots for the top 50 free agents in the league and had Marcus Williams staying in NOLA:

"The Saints’ cap situation isn’t pretty, but Williams is an important part of the defense. Given that former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is the new head coach, he likely wants to keep one of the pieces that helped him field a top-10 defense for the last couple of years."

Menon predicts the Saints will give Williams a four-year deal worth $64.5 million, which seems on par with what Williams could command on the market.

New Orleans Saints expected to hold onto Marcus Williams in 2022

Ever since Williams was drafted by NOLA in the second round of the 2017 draft, he has made a significant impact in the backfield. Williams has recorded a 70-plus PFF grade for five straight seasons racking up 15 interceptions, 38 passes defended, and three forced fumbles.

At the safety position, C.J. Gardner Johnson and Malcolm Jenkins each enjoyed a solid season in 2021, but Williams outshined both of them and could arguably be considered the Saints’ best young defender on the team.

Williams has played in at least 14 games in each of his five seasons, proving he’s as reliable as he is talented. As the narrative goes every offseason, the Saints will need to restructure player contracts to create cap space, but it’s nothing the team hasn’t done before.

Williams seems happy on the Saints, and we’re happy he’s happy. We hope this isn’t the end of Williams’ time in New Orleans, but it will come down to his own preferences and how much the Saints can afford to pay him in 2022.

Fingers crossed, Williams will don the black and gold for many more years.