4 free agent safeties the Detroit Lions can sign after missing on Marcus Williams

2. Anthony Harris

If there’s a knock on Walker, it’s his lack of impact plays to create turnovers (one interception last season, three interceptions for his career and zero career forced fumbles). So adding a ballhawk at the other safety spot seeems to be ideal.

Harris has just one interception over the past two seasons, but in 2019 with the Vikings he tied for the league lead with six interceptions and he picked off three passes the previous season as he became a starter in Minnesota. The scheme fit may not have been great in Philadelphia, but in Detroit’s split-safety scheme Harris could be a nice fit and the coaching of Aaron Glenn and Aubrey Pleasant could only help him become a certified ballhawk again.

1. P.J. Williams

After missing on Marcus Williams, P.J. Williams has the Saints’ tie to Glenn as well and thus has been easy to see as a potential fit for the Lions.

Williams transitioned from purely playing cornerback to lining up everywhere in New Orleans, and in praise of Will Harris embracing a multi-faceted role last season Glenn cited Williams.

"Will Harris has a lot of value, as far as a player just in general, because he’s played every position in the back end that you can imagine. I had a guy like this named P.J. Williams with the Saints, and he was just like Will. Actually, he wasn’t as good of an athlete as Will, but the one thing that he was, he was very smart"

Williams looks like a perfect fit for what the Lions could use in their secondary–a versatile piece with some nose for the ball (three interceptions, five pass breakups and two sacks in 2021).

Other remaining free agent safeties the Lions could have on their radar: DeShon Elliott, Jabrill Peppers, Rodney McLeod, Terrell Edmunds, Kareem Jackson, Jaquiski Tartt