NFL free agency is often a game of connect the dots, with teams signing players their coaches have worked closely with in previous stops.
The Detroit Lions hoarded ex-New England Patriots for years under their previous regime, and if they want to build a New Orleans Saints-like secondary this spring they should have the chance to when free agency opens this week.
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Two prominent Saints defensive backs are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents Wednesday and both fill needs on a Lions defense that could be looking for two new starters at safety.
Marcus Williams is the best safety on the market, with 15 interceptions in his five seasons in New Orleans, while P.J. Williams is a versatile defensive back who Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn once called “one of my favorite players.”
Glenn and Lions head coach Dan Campbell worked together as assistants with the Saints in 2016-20.
“P.J.’s my Swiss army knife,” Glenn said in a 2020 interview. “He’s one of those … position-less players that they have the intelligence to play a number of positions but they also have the body type and the ability to do it.”
P.J. Williams played safety, cornerback and slot corner in nickel and dime packages for the Saints, where he’s been a fixture in the secondary the past six seasons.
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Glenn compared current Lions defensive back Will Harris to Williams last season. Harris opened the season as a starting safety, moved to slot cornerback when A.J. Parker missed time with injury and finished the season at outside corner.
Harris’ future role is to-be-determined based on how the Lions address their secondary needs this offseason.
The Lions’ top three cornerbacks Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah and Jerry Jacobs are coming off season-ending injuries, and the rehabs for Okudah and Jacobs are expected to last into summer. Safeties Tracy Walker and Dean Marlowe will be unrestricted free agents, though the Lions would like to re-sign Walker.
Even if Walker returns, the Lions need another starting safety for the secondary and could pursue a veteran insurance at cornerback. They’ve been linked to Marcus Williams for more than a year because of their need at the position and the value he adds on defense.
Last year, the Saints used the franchise tag on Williams to keep him from testing free agency.
“Because of the way we play defensively, we really ask our safeties to do a lot of things, not only in the run fits, in pass coverage, blitzing,” Lions secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant said. “Playing in the middle of the field or half-field safety, so really you need some versatility, you got to have some really, really good leadership qualities and you’ve got to have some ball production.”
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Pleasant also has ties to one prominent free agent defensive back, Darious Williams, who he coached with the Los Angeles Rams. Williams is considered the top nickel cornerback on the market and is expected to be too pricey for the Lions.
Free agent DB report
On the Lions’ roster for 2022: CB — Jeff Okudah; Amani Oruwariye; Ifeatu Melifonwu; Jerry Jacobs; AJ Parker; Parnell Motley; Saivion Smith. S — Will Harris; C.J. Moore; Brady Breeze.
Pending Lions free agents: CB — Bobby Price (ERFA-tendered); Mark Gilbert (ERFA-tendered). S — Tracy Walker; Dean Marlowe; JuJu Hughes (ERFA-tendered); Jalen Elliott (ERFA).
Top free agents: CB — J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots; Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Stephon Gilmore, Carolina Panthers. S — Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints; Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs; Marcus Maye, New York Jets.
Others who may interest Lions: P.J. Williams, New Orleans Saints; Malik Hooker, Dallas Cowboys.
Market watch: A surprisingly good collection of defensive backs is scheduled to hit free agency this week, with young starters available at both the cornerback and safety positions. Jackson has a whopping 17 interceptions the past two seasons and at 26 years old is in line to land one of the biggest contracts in free agency. The Bucs chose to franchise receiver Chris Godwin instead of Davis, and likely will lose half of their starting secondary in Davis and safety Jordan Whitehead. Gilmore, Jackson’s former running mate in New England, is 31 but still playing at a high level and should interest contenders. And a handful of other cornerbacks, including Williams, Casey Hayward and Charvarius Ward should have no problem topping $10 million a year on new deals.
The Cincinnati Bengals used the franchise tag on Jessie Bates, leaving Marcus Williams as the top safety on the market, but there is good enough depth at the position to think deals could develop slowly in the coming days. Mathieu turns 30 this spring and like Gilmore should interest contenders, while Maye and Quandre Diggs are coming off season-ending injuries. Walker is in the next tier of available safeties, though his youth should put him more in demand than comparable players like Kareem Jackson, Devin McCourty and his ex-Lions teammate Jayron Kearse.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.