After a strong Day 1, what might the #Jets do on Day 2?
Forget CB Stephon Gilmore; they’re not pursuing him. They have other (better) CB options. Remain interested in S Marcus Williams, but asking price still too high for teams. QB Joe Flacco could re-sign. Maybe OL Dan Feeney.
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) March 15, 2022
Here’s the first bit of news on one major New Orleans Saints pending free agent: free safety Marcus Williams has been linked to the New York Jets by ESPN’s Rich Cimini, who notes that the Jets have taken an interest in Williams despite his high asking price — as have other teams around the league.
Williams likely began seeking lofty offers once the NFL’s legal tampering period kicked off on Monday, which would average more than $17 million per year after ex-Jets safety Jamal Adams upended the market on his extension with the Seattle Seahawks (which clocked in four years and $70 million). There’s a greater precedent for free safety contracts in the $14 million range, so that’s quite a gulf to travel.
Williams and Adams may both be named safeties, but they have different job responsibilities with Adams seeing more snaps in the box and at the line of scrimmage while Williams steps in as the last line of defense. That sort of nuance typically doesn’t translate to contract negotiations, leading Williams to seek major compensation in a deal. And from Cimini’s report, it doesn’t sound like teams are interested in paying what he’s seeking, though he is still projected to rank high among his peers in the end.
So what does that mean for Williams? If he’s not going to find the payday he’s seeking in free agency, could he circle back to the Saints and end up agreeing to whatever number they last offered him? Or will New Orleans move on other options before he has the chance, as happened not too long ago with fan-favorite running back Mark Ingram?
It’s also possible, maybe even likely, that Williams is waiting to see whether the Saints pull off a landmark trade for Deshaun Watson. That raises their Super Bowl odds significantly and could motivate him into taking a slight discount for the chance to chase a championship ring. Stay tuned to see how this develops.
