Eagles Encouraged to Consider Ex-$70 Million Safety on a Short-Term Deal
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Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams.
The Philadelphia Eagles have recently parted ways with two key secondary players—safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Darius Slay—who most teams would love to have. Both were crucial during the Eagles’ journey to winning Super Bowl LIX on February 9, where they delivered a dominant defensive performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Slay’s departure to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year, $10 million free-agent contract was a straightforward decision. The Eagles boast two of the league’s top young cornerbacks in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Both were rookies in 2024 and are considered essential to the team’s future.
Gardner-Johnson’s exit was more complex. The Eagles traded him to the Houston Texans on March 11, along with a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, in exchange for former first-round offensive guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round selection.
While the Eagles may draft a safety in 2025 to complement Mitchell and DeJean and inject youth into the secondary, they might also look at signing a veteran on a short-term deal to add depth.
A player Philadelphia could evaluate in a “Washed or Not?” scenario is former Ravens safety Marcus Williams, who was designated a post-June 1 release on March 12.
“Washed or Not?”: Key Considerations
Williams has been one of the biggest free-agent letdowns in recent years. After spending his first five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, he signed a three-year, $70 million contract with the Ravens in March 2022 but failed to meet expectations.
When assessing whether Williams is past his prime, the main factor is how injuries have affected his performance and whether he can recover.
In 2022, his first season with Baltimore, he recorded 61 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass deflections, and one fumble recovery but missed seven games due to a dislocated wrist.
In 2023, he managed 55 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one interception but missed six games after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in his left shoulder during the season opener. He chose to avoid season-ending surgery. In 2024, he was benched twice for poor performance and was a healthy scratch for the final five games.
NFL careers rarely decline due to upper-body injuries like Williams’—especially not at age 28. The Eagles might want to investigate whether he has reconsidered surgery or what a medical evaluation reveals.
If Williams can regain some of his past form—19 interceptions in his first six seasons—Philadelphia could explore a one-year, $1.5 million contract as a starting point.
“When Williams returned for the 2024 season, he avoided discussing his health, stating he didn’t remember his injury,” The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han reported on March 12. “… Following the season, the Ravens and Williams adjusted his contract so they only owed him $2.1 million in salary until June 1, with his $15,245,216 dead money split—$6,027,918 in 2025 and $9,217,298 in 2026. If the Ravens proceed with his post-June 1 release, they would save $2.1 million in 2025.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, specializing in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports journalist and editor since 2004, his work has been featured in Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News, and the Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame.