The New Orleans Saints continue to make moves this season to better the defense. The organization seems dedicated to showing fans that it is aware of what they need to improve. Sometimes, bringing back players with upside as depth pieces can be a very smart decision. Following that strategy, the Saints have re-signed P.J. Williams.
A former Florida State Seminole, P.J. Williams has been with the Saints since he was drafted. He joined the Saints in 2015, signing a four-year rookie deal.
Why the Saints Brought Back PJ Williams
It’s not clear if Williams will be back in a starting role. Last season, he started in eight games and ended the season with one interception, one sack, and 44 tackles. Besides his rookie season, Williams has recorded at least one interception in every season. Williams isn’t a star cornerback who sticks out, but he can get the job done and has been reliable over the course of his young career.
However, it is obvious the Saints are focusing on depth in the secondary. Most likely, Williams will not be named a starter for the season. He will likely be lined up as a second-string player. The Saints have built the secondary with veteran players like Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins. Though the team lost Vonn Bell in free agency, the Saints acquired veteran Malcolm Jenkins to replace him.
The main reason the Saints decided to re-sign Williams is the flexibility he gives their defensive rotation. With Williams in the mix, the Saints have the ability to not necessarily have to depend on a rookie to perform at a high rate if they choose to ignore the position in the 2020 NFL Draft. On offense, losing Drew Brees for part of the 2019 season didn’t really shake the coaches. Granted, Brees is a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but his backups were enough to get the job done. Both Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill were not shy to step onto the field and had a level of competitiveness that matched the team. The Saints have been able to sustain success in recent years due to the depth they have built on both sides of the ball, and bringing back PJ Williams is the right move to maintain depth in the secondary.
Williams’ Strength and Weaknesses
PJ Williams has speed and has been lined up in a variety of positions for the Saints. His speed is particularly beneficial when he is tracking a receiver in man-to-man coverage. His experience in different roles gives the Saints confidence that he will be a value to the defense in 2020 and it helps his case for being included in the key rotation next season. However, Williams’ biggest weakness is his lack of consistency. If he can improve his tackling consistency, he should see increased playing time in 2020.
For a cheap one-year, $2 million contract, the Saints made a shrewd decision to bring back P.J. Williams. His experience with the team in a variety of roles makes him well worth that prove-it deal and he should be a key depth piece of the New Orleans secondary next season.
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