Saints safety Marcus Williams not expecting to be franchise tagged

Williams, 25, played on the tag last season after attempts to reach a long-term agreement came up short. As a result, Fowler notes, he “does not expect” to be tagged a second time. Instead, the Saints’ preference would once again be to get a long-term extension done. Williams has started all 76 games he’s played in during his five seasons in New Orleans, including another productive campaign in 2021.

In 16 contests, Williams recorded a career-high 74 tackles, along with two interceptions and eight pass breakups. He also had his best season in terms of coverage statistics, allowing a completion percentage under 50% for the first time. For his career, he has totaled 15 picks and 38 pass deflections, making the former second rounder a key member of the Saints’ secondary. Fowler’s colleague Dan Graziano notes that a second tag would cost $12.73M in 2022, if the Saints were to ultimately go that route.

In related news, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic tweets that a tag is also not expected for left tackle Terron Armstead. If the three time Pro Bowler were to hit the open market, he would be among the most sought-after offensive linemen in free agency. With plenty of work done just to get under the cap, the Saints face a tough road to keep two key pieces of their team under contract for the foreseeable future.