Jets predicted to add oft-injured safety in notable post-NFL draft signing

12 hours ago 2

In the haze of a busy offseason for the New York Jets, one of the more overlooked position groups where the team has seen a lot of change has been the safety room.

After New York allowed just 192.6 passing yards per game in 2024 (the third-fewest in the NFL behind only the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles), they watched Ashtyn Davis land a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. To this point, they've also decided not to bring back Chuck Clark, who played 57.2% of their defensive snaps last year and is still a free agent.

In response, the Jets have signed 26-year-old Andre Cisco and undrafted rookie Dean Clark from Fresno State. They also used one of their fourth-round picks (No. 130 overall) on Alabama safety Malachi Moore.

While this may be enough to counteract the losses, New York may be looking for another player with plenty of experience to join their secondary. In fact, Pro Football and Sports Network's Sterling Xie recently suggested that the Jets should bring in free-agent safety Marcus Williams before the season starts.

Williams, 28, played collegiately at Utah from 2014-16, earning All-Pac-12 honors twice and recording 189 tackles (four for a loss), 11 interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered in 37 games for the Utes.

The New Orleans Saints selected Williams in the second round (No. 42) of the 2017 NFL draft and made him a starter as a rookie.

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In five seasons in New Orleans, Williams appeared in 76 games and totaled 320 tackles, 38 passes defended, 15 interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered and a sack.

Williams inked a five-year, $70 million contract in 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens and over the three years before he was released, he appeared in just 32 games and recorded 149 tackles (four for a loss), 18 passes defended, five interceptions and two fumbles recovered.

While Williams has lost at least six games in each of the last three seasons due to injury, he could be a welcome addition to the Jets' secondary, and at this point in the offseason, he won't cost a fortune.