Jamaal Williams has once again found a new home. The running back said yes to a three-year deal with the New Orleans Saint worth $12 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Williams got $8 million guaranteed money, according to Rapoport.
The Saints, are the third NFC home Williams would be joining since he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft fourth round. This move could not have come at a better time for the running back, who is entering the year after what was the best season of his career, rushing 1,066 yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns in his last campaign with the Detroit Lions.
Now is the time for Williams to cash into this good fortune. Leaving Detroit will leave some eyes teary, especially since Jamaal won over thousands of devotees with his prominent, passionate role in HBO’s Hard Knocks. However, the NFL is still a serious business and if Williams were to earn his keep, it was going to be in 2023.
The yearly average salary Jamaal Williams would be earning in New Orleans pales in comparison to the amount he earned in every other NFL position he held. Quarterbacks earn between $40 and $55 million annually, and Williams will make a fraction of that with the Saints.
But, this position is not about his value, but a show of the state of the running back market, which was slow before Wednesday afternoon, with the Miami Dolphins retaining Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, and the Dallas Cowboys releasing Ezekiel Elliot, these are the most prominent moves.
Jamaal Williams will receive $4 million a year to play in an offense spearheaded by Alvin Kamara. He is been second best for most of his career, shadowing Aaron Jones in Green Bay, D’Andre Swift in Detroit, and now Kamara in New Orleans continues the circle.
Kamara and Willimas could form an unstoppable offense duo, already backed by Derek Carr the new quarterback and a receiving corps that has Chris Olave and Michael Thomas.
For this next step in Jamaal’s career, he will do it in the Big Easy.
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