4. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints
His rookie season was perhaps defined by a single moment in time. A missed tackle at the end of a playoff game that allowed the Minnesota Vikings to pull off a stunning miracle finish in the NFC Divisional Round. But that one moment in time propelled Williams towards becoming one of the NFL’s best players at his position, and last season was no different.
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:
Marcus Williams sprints across the field and makes a fantastic interception pic.twitter.com/dac6591WyC
— Tompa (@GavinRodLWOS) December 4, 2019
With his steady growth over the past few seasons, and now with a veteran running mate in Malcolm Jenkins in town, Williams should continue to shine.