It’s tough to overlook the few bad moments that Marcus Williams has turned in during his New Orleans Saints career, considering how bright the spotlights have been on him at times. But fans should remember that there is more to Williams than a missed tackle here or an ugly facemask penalty there. He’s one of the NFL’s brightest young stars at safety for his consistent, high level of play on a snap-by-snap basis.
That’s the argument made by Mark Schofield over at Touchdown Wire, where he listed Williams among the game’s top tier of talented safeties. Williams is on the same level as players like Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Harrison Smith. Here’s some of what Schofield wrote to justify that lofty praise:
Last season was his best in terms of pass coverage. Williams was targeted 24 times in the passing game, allowing just 12 receptions for 139 yards and a single touchdown, against four interceptions. He gave up an NFL passer rating of just 42.2, his best mark in three seasons in the NFL. A prime example of his ball-hawking ability comes from his interception of Matt Ryan this past season, on a deep throw intended for Calvin Ridley. Williams reads the quarterback’s eyes perfectly and breaks on the throw, taking a perfect angle to undercut the pass:
We’ll see where the 2020 season takes Williams as he continues to climb the ranks, but he’s put himself on a high trajectory by playing so well so soon into his NFL career. One factor worth filing away is his contract status; as a 2017 second-round draft pick, he’s entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal, and can earn a big payday in 2021 if he keeps up his momentum. With teammates like linebacker Demario Davis and running back Alvin Kamara also lined up for contract extensions, the Saints might be facing some tough decisions in the near future.
