NFL Free Agency 2022: Predicting one signing for all 32 teams

Detroit Lions: Marcus Williams, S (Saints)

The Detroit Lions may not be a destination free agents are going to flock to, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to convince big-name players to come and play for them if the price is right.

After playing on the franchise tag in 2021, Marcus Williams is due for a massive deal from some team. Who better to pay him than a team with coaches that already know him extremely well?

Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn were on the New Orleans Saints staff, and Glenn coached the defensive backs there, specifically.

This coaching staff in Detroit knows Williams well and they could sell him on being part of their rebuild, reload, resurgence — whatever you want to call it.

Say what you will about Detroit in 2021 — that team played hard for the “rookie” staff and it’s obvious that players respond to the coaches they have there.

I think a player like Williams, who is shockingly still only 25, is a clear candidate to reset the safety market on a 3-year contract and then sign another big-money deal when he’s just 28.

A team like the Detroit Lions could very well make him the highest-paid safety in the game, having him come be a centerpiece of their roster rebuild and culture reset.