The Jacksonville Jaguars may need to address the safety position in free agency. If they do, they'll have one more option than they originally expected.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that safety Marcus Williams is preparing to hit the open market, pointing out that the Baltimore Ravens are expected to release him.
#Ravens safety Marcus Williams is preparing for free agency with the full expectation that Baltimore releases him, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 28, 2025
A recent contract restructure includes a significant trigger March 13.
Williams, benched last season, has 20 career INTs. pic.twitter.com/iJUVDYBUQL
A third-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Williams spent his first four NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints and signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. He's appeared in 108 games with 106 starts and registered 20 interceptions and 56 passes defensed.
Williams will join a free-agent class that includes fellow safeties Justin Reid, Tre'Von Moehrig, Jevon Holland, and Cam Bynum. The position may become a need for the Jags if they let Andre Cisco hit the open market.
Cisco was a third-round pick in 2021 who has shown playmaking skills, registering a combined seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed in 2022-2023. However, he's coming off a down year, and it's uncertain if Jacksonville will want him back. The franchise tag might've been a way to keep the New York, Queens native from leaving, but the team's brass doesn't plan to use it.
Given that coaching was an issue last year, there's a chance that the new regime will want to bring the former Syracuse Orangeman back, but he wants to test the market and see what kind of demand there is for his services.
Related story: Updated cap space and draft picks for the Jaguars in 2025
Why Marcus Williams would be a fit for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency
If the Jacksonville Jaguars want to sign a safety in free agency to replace Andre Cisco, they'll have no shortage of options. They've previously been linked to Jevon Holland because of his relationship with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile during his stint as the linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2021-2023.
The Jags have also been linked to Cam Bynum, who's coming off a season in which he registered three interceptions and 10 passes defensed. That said, he'll probably come cheap and it's uncertain if general manager James Gladstone is willing to pay top-market compensation to bolster the safety position. Enter Marcus Williams.
Williams isn't nearly as young as other safeties, but at 28, he isn't old either. His biggest drawback was that he was a healthy scratch the last six games of the 2024 season. The Baltimore Ravens cited a personal decision as the reason for benching him, but it looks like it was due to his struggles early in the year.
Maybe Williams will benefit from a fresh start. Moreover, he's more effective when he lines up close to the line of scrimmage. The Jaguars could use him in that role, and signing him would make sense if they're looking for an affordable option to replace Andre Cisco.
The bottom line is that there will be better options than Marcus Williams in the open market but he would be a viable alternative short-term if the Jacksonville Jaguars don't want to break the bank.