Former Florida State defensive standout PJ Williams signs new NFL contract

PJ Williams is back to the only home he has known since making the transition form the Florida State Seminoles to the NFL.

On Saturday, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter reported the former FSU defensive back is once again signing a deal to stay with the New Orleans Saints.

Saints’ safety P.J. Williams is returning to New Orleans on a one-year deal, per source. This now will be Williams’ eighth season with the Saints.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2022

The New Orleans Saints have suffered two significant blows to their secondary this offseason, so while the former FSU star is considered older for his position at age 28, he gives the organization a safety blanket who they can turn to at any moment, while offering veteran leadership in the defensive backs room.

Free safety Marcus Williams left on a nice free agency contract with the Baltimore Ravens, while strong safety Malcolm Jenkins chose to retire after 13 successful seasons in the NFL. The Saints were able to bring in free agents Marcus Maye and Daniel Sorensen to help replenish the depth chart, but Williams knows the system better than both of them and should be able to ease the learning curve on the back end.

PJ Williams was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft and has spent his entire NFL career in New Orleans. This is the fourth-consecutive year he has signed a new one-year contract to remain with the team, a staggering statistic. The former FSU cornerback converted to safety later in his Saints career and has found some success as an experienced role player in head coach Dennis Allen’s defense. He’s suited up for 85 games in his Saints career, including the playoffs.

Last year Williams played in 16 games but started just five.

PJ Williams at Florida State

Coming out of high school, Williams was considered a versatile four-star defensive back that can play either corner or safety, which has proven to be key to sustaining a long NFL career.

He saw the field in 12 games as freshman for the Seminoles in 2012, but in 2013 the talented defensive back took the next step and really began to shine for Florida State.

In 2013, Williams blossomed into one of ACC’s best defensive backs in his second season, capturing Defensive MVP honors in BCS National Championship Game against Auburn after making a career-high seven tackles, including a half-tackle for loss and interception on consecutive plays at the start of the fourth quarter when the Seminoles trailed 21-13, his pick of Tigers’ quarterback Nick Marshall provided a spark and led to an FSU touchdown.

PJ Williams entered the 2014 campaign widely regarded as one of the top cover corners in the country and was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award as well as a First Team All-ACC selection.

The NFL veteran closed out his career in Tallahassee with as a two-time All-ACC selection, two-year starter and the Defensive MVP of the 2013 BCS Championship game. He had 123 tackles and 18 pass break-ups over his 40 games at FSU.