Having played on the franchise tag last season, Marcus Williams is set to become a free agent this offseason. A highly valued player, Williams ranks seventh in PFN’s Top 75 Free Agents in 2022. Entering NFL free agency at just 25 years old, what could Williams’ market look like in 2022, and where are his potential landing spots?
Marcus Williams’ free agent overview
What is there not to like about Williams as a free agent? At 25, he has youth on his side, and he has proven durability after missing just five games through his first five seasons in the league. His output in terms of tackles sits behind the top end of the market in Tyrann Mathieu, but his 15 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles demonstrate that he is a playmaker in the secondary.
Williams will likely require a different commitment from teams than Mathieu or Quandre Diggs will be asking for. Williams is likely looking for a longer-term deal but with a similar average value. Spotrac currently has Williams’ market value at around $15 million a year over the course of five years. That would be a slightly cheaper deal in terms of AAV than Justin Simmons signed last year with the Broncos. And it would come with that extra year.
Williams’ best landing spots
The market for Williams should be vibrant. With him being that much younger than Diggs or Mathieu, different teams will potentially look his way. Diggs and Mathieu will likely draw more attention from teams expected to challenge in 2022 or 2023. Meanwhile, a rebuilding team could look to Williams as a centerpiece to build their defense around.
Detroit Lions
Lions head coach Dan Campbell will know Williams from his time in New Orleans. Therefore, it would be somewhat of a red flag if Campbell and the Lions show no interest in Williams. Detroit has Will Harris and Ifeatu Melifonwu on their roster for 2022, but they could still add a high-end player such as Williams.
The biggest question for Detroit is how they prioritize their salary cap space this offseason. They might look to add players that can make them better immediately. However, unless they change their QB situation, that might be somewhat fools gold. Being slightly more competitive in 2022 could be self-defeating. As a result, prioritizing a player like Williams, who will add value in the short-term but can also be a key piece in 2024 or 2025 when the Lions might be closer to a playoff challenger, would be the more prudent decision this offseason.
Houston Texans
The situation is similar in Houston. Yes, they could use cap space this offseason to make themselves better in 2022. However, unless Davis Mills takes a huge leap, it is unlikely they will go from the bottom of the standings to a Super Bowl contender in 2022. Consequently, their focus — if they spend big in free agency — should be on longer-term contributors. Williams could be that player.
Houston has a lot of needs to address this offseason. They have pending free agents all over their roster and a relatively limited amount of cap space to fix it all. Still, with other positions lacking the youth and talent combination Williams offers, he should be a player they take a hard look at. With Justin Reid and Terrence Brooks set to be free agents this year, the Texans certainly need safety help.
Kansas City Chiefs
The potential departure of Mathieu puts the Chiefs in the safety market in 2022. This Chiefs team is built to win now. But it also has the structure in place where they hope to contend through the next four to five years. Williams could be a key piece they add now, who continues to contribute further down the line.
Cost will be key here. The Chiefs were apparently not willing to match the expectations of Mathieu. Will they be willing to for a younger player in Williams? If not, we could see the Chiefs looking for a cheaper option at the position.
New York Jets
The Jets have a youthful secondary. Reports have stated they like their options. However, there are some glaring holes at safety, especially with Marcus Maye and Lamarcus Joyner set to depart. Ashtyn Davis is a solid role player but is not viewed by many as an every-down player in the NFL. Beyond Davis, the depth chart is worryingly thin.
Williams would be a perfect fit for the Jets. He would fit the youthful secondary they have built while also bringing a much-needed infusion of talent and experience. The Jets have another three years of Zach Wilson on his rookie deal. With plentiful cap space this offseason, they could use that to frontload a deal for Williams.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are in an intriguing situation. If Jalen Hurts works out as the QB, they are a potential win-now team. However, if he does not develop in 2022, they could also enter a slight rebuild. With Williams being just 25, he can fit the profile of either of those situations. He can help the team contend now or later.
The Eagles do not have a huge amount of holes on their roster and have a bit of cap space to play with this offseason. Williams would provide an immediate boost to a secondary that needs more talent.
Washington Commanders
Washington’s pass defense struggled in 2022 — they could be looking for an upgrade on the back end. Kamren Curl has been a good find, but Landon Collins has been a liability against the pass. Therefore, a pairing of Williams and Curl could provide the Commanders with a solid pairing in the center of their defense.
Cap space could be the biggest concern for Washington. They took on $28 million when they traded for Carson Wentz. However, after making that move, the Commanders are likely all-in on a playoff push as soon as 2022. Williams would certainly help that push.