In the NFL, career paths can change in an instant. A player can be a star one moment and jobless the next. That's been the case for former New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Williams.
Just a year after being a starter in one of the best defenses in the league, Williams is stranded in free agency with no apparent suitors.
As training camp approaches, Williams deserves a spot on an NFL roster.
Former Saints safety Marcus Williams deserves a spot in training camp
Veteran safeties are being left out to dry in the NFL, and Marcus Williams is no exception. The 28-year-old is one of a few starting-caliber safeties still sitting in the free agent market as training camp approaches.
The Saints picked Williams in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He became an impact player immediately, bringing in five interceptions as a rookie. Of course, Williams' rookie season was overshadowed by Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara, who won Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year, respectively.
Williams was a starter in all five of his seasons with the Saints, playing over 1,000 total snaps in each. In those five seasons, he amassed 16 interceptions and over 250 tackles. He was a key cog in one of the NFL's best defenses.
But when a team has a draft class as good as the Saints' 2017 group, they can't pay everybody. Williams was franchise-tagged in 2021, but he left the Saints in 2022 to enter free agency.
After signing with the Baltimore Ravens, Williams picked up right where he left off. Williams struggled to stay healthy in both 2022 and 2023, but he was a consistent starter when available. In 2024, he fell from the Ravens' good graces, barely playing over 600 defensive snaps all season.
Baltimore cut Williams back in March, and he hasn't found a new team since. As training camp rapidly approaches, Williams should receive a good look from teams in need of a safety.
The Saints have already added to their safety group this offseason, signing Justin Reid in free agency and taking Jonas Sanker in the third round of April's draft. With a veteran safety pairing of Reid and Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans may not have room on the roster for Williams.
Still, he deserves a spot somewhere. Williams is a veteran ball hawk with over 20 career interceptions and experience in big games. Teams like the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals that need help at safety should at least give Williams a training camp invite.