Report: Ravens Boost Secondary by Signing Safety Marcus Williams

The Baltimore Ravens are making moves to once again compete in the AFC North, and doing so at a position of interest for then Pittsburgh Steelers, as the Ravens and safety Marcus Williams have agreed to a five-year deal worth $70 million, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Williams, who is widely regarded as one of the top safeties in the NFL, immediately fulfills a big need for the Ravens defense and upgrades their secondary.

After being drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Williams has recorded 312 tackles, 15 interceptions, 38 passes defended and three forced fumbles so far in his career. He’s one of six players with two-plus interceptions in each of the past five seasons.

“Our inability this year to create turnovers was probably an issue for us, and I would love to see us make the play this year coming up – intercept more passes, cause more fumbles, be more disruptive,” general manager Eric DeCosta said in February. “So, if the opportunity presents itself and we see a dynamic corner or a dynamic safety, of course, that would be something that would be attractive to us.”

This contract allows Williams to cash in with a long-term deal following a season playing on the franchise tag for the Saints.

Williams will slot in alongside returning strong safety Chuck Clark. Combined with cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, the Ravens will have over $100 million invested in their secondary this season.

The deal for Williams should set the market for safeties, which the Steelers are keenly interested. Incumbent Pittsburgh starter Terrell Edmunds remains unsigned after testing the market, but D.J. Reed (New York Jets, 3 years, $33 million), Justin Reid (Kansas City Chiefs, 3 years, $31.5 million), Marcus Maye (New Orleans Saints, 3 years, $28.5 million), Jordan Whitehead (Jets, 2 yeas, $14.5 million) and Xavier Woods (Carolina Panthers, 3 years, $15.75 million) have already been signed.