The Saints had a clear need at running back, and they filled it in a pretty impressive way.
New Orleans has agreed to a 3-year, $12 million deal with former Lions running back Jamaal Williams, according to a report from. $8 million of that deal is guaranteed.
Williams, 27, is coming off his first career 1,000-yard rushing season, but was most impressive down at the goal line, where he accounted for an NFL-leading 17 rushing touchdowns. That number was four clear of the next-highest TD scorer in that category, with Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry and Jalen Hurts tied at 13 each.
Williams was a fourth-round pick of the Packers in 2017 and spent four years there before signing with the Lions prior to the 2021 season.
In the Saints backfield he'll fill two key roles. The first will be as a complement to Alvin Kamara, with Mark Ingram a free agent and unlikely to return. Kamara had a bizarre down season in the rushing touchdown category, with just two 15 games. That was due in part to Taysom Hill's effectiveness in that role, as he rushed for a career high 575 yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. Hill and Williams were teammates at BYU.
But Williams also looks to provide a steady presence if and when any discipline is levied against Kamara stemming from an incident outside an elevator in Las Vegas ahead of the 2021 Pro Bowl. That case is currently in the process of being heard, with Kamara due back in court in late July.
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The signing came on a busy day for the Saints, with the team also agreeing to terms with a pair of big interior linemen in former Jets DT Nathan Shepherd and former Chiefs DT Kahlen Saunders. The Saints made their biggest splash with the signing of Derek Carr to a 4-year, $150 million deal, and also are bringing back QB Jameis Winston and WR Michael Thomas on re-worked 1-year deals. The Saints had previously re-signed TE Juwan Johnson, safety and special teams ace J.T. Gray, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, WR Keith Kirkwood and G Calvin Throckmorton.
The DT signings will help offset the departures of David Onyemata to the Falcons and Shy Tuttle to the Panthers on 3-year deals. Other free agent departures for the Saints include LB Kaden Elliss (Falcons); DE Marcus Davenport (Vikings); QB Andy Dalton (Panthers); and WR/KR Deonte Harty (Bills).
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