Former Lions RB Jamaal Williams Signing with the Saints
The free agent market keeps on spinning tonight, as former Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams heads to New Orleans on a three-year deal (Adam Schefter).
A career-high (and Lions record) 17 touchdowns last season were good enough to net Jamaal Williams a new long-term deal with New Orleans. His contract with the Saints is worth $12 million, with $8 million fully guaranteed.
Williams rushed for 1,066 yards and 17 scores on 262 carries in his first season with the Lions. Williams played four seasons with the Green Bay Packers before the Lions in 2022. Year six will be in NOLA.
He will be in a familiar role with the Saints, splitting carries with Alvin Kamara. Williams split carries with D’Andre Swift in Detroit last season and Aaron Jones in Green Bay.
His infectious personality was on display last season with the Lions, specifically after their Week 18 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Saints have now added Derek Carr and Williams to their offense and reworked the contracts of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. New Orleans obviously feels like they can compete in a soft NFC South next season.
The Saints also reworked Jameis Winston’s deal to keep him in New Orleans as Carr’s backup next season.
On the local front, Williams was viewed as a fit for the Chicago Bears, who (incidentally) lost David Montgomery to the Lions. At a $4 million per season AAV with only $8 million guaranteed, I would have love the fit for the Bears. Maybe they’ll go a different route ….
