The Baltimore Ravens reportedly agreed to terms with safety Marcus Williams on a five-year, $70 million deal. It marks a major splash made by Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta, and ensures that the team has a young star at the free safety position for years to come.
Going into the 2022 offseason, safety was one of the sneakier needs on the Ravens’ roster. While they have a few very solid players such as Chuck Clark, Brandon Stephens and others, it’s felt like the team has been missing a true ballhawking presence in their defensive backfield ever since the untimely departure of Earl Thomas III.
Williams gives Baltimore just that, as he has registered 38 total pass breakups and 15 interceptions over the course of his five-year career. He has elite range and can cover a vast amount of ground in a short amount of time. Teams were content throwing on the Ravens’ league-worst passing defense in 2021, and gashed them repeatedly with big plays. The addition of Williams will help reverse that trend.
From a money perspective, on paper the deal might seem like a lot. However, for a player of Williams’ caliber many are considering it a bit of a bargain. For a young player who’s gotten better every year, adding him for $37 million guaranteed can be looked at as an extreme positive. Williams was never going to come cheap, and Baltimore shelled out a big amount of money for a difference maker and someone who moves the needle on their defensive unit. Williams is also extremely durable, missing a total of five games in his five-year career.
The addition of Williams now creates a starting secondary that also includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters as well as safety Chuck Clark. Going out and getting a player like Williams shows that DeCosta is ready to do what it takes to get the Ravens back to the promised land.
Getting one of the best young safeties in the NFL at somewhat of a reduced price than many expected is a home run move for Baltimore. He should be a mainstay on the Ravens’ defense, creating high-impact plays and forcing quarterbacks into turnovers.
Grade: A