The Philadelphia Eagles have moved on from two key members of their secondary in the past month—safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Darius Slay—both of whom played pivotal roles in their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9.
Slay’s departure to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year, $10 million deal is straightforward. The Eagles have two rising stars at cornerback in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, both of whom started as rookies in 2024 and are considered long-term cornerstones for the defense.
Gardner-Johnson’s exit, however, was more complex. Philadelphia traded him to the Houston Texans on March 11, along with a 2026 sixth-round pick, in exchange for former first-round offensive guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
The Eagles may look to add a young safety in the 2025 NFL Draft to complement Mitchell and DeJean and continue reshaping their secondary. However, they could also consider signing a veteran on a short-term deal for depth.
One option worth exploring is former Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams, who was released with a post-June 1 designation on March 12. Philadelphia could take a flier on him in a “Washed or Not?” scenario to see if he still has something left in the tank.
“Washed Or Not?”: Facts We Should Consider
Marcus Williams has been one of the NFL’s more disappointing free-agent signings in recent years. After leaving the New Orleans Saints in 2022, he signed a three-year, $70 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens but struggled to stay on the field due to injuries.
The key question in evaluating whether Williams is “washed or not” revolves around his health and whether he can bounce back.
In his first season with Baltimore (2022), he posted solid numbers—61 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass deflections, and a fumble recovery—but missed seven games with a dislocated wrist. The following year, he recorded 55 tackles, eight pass deflections, and one interception, despite suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the season opener. Rather than undergoing season-ending surgery, he opted to play through the injury, missing six games. By 2024, his performance declined significantly—he was benched twice and finished the season as a healthy scratch for the final five games.
Upper-body injuries like Williams’ don’t typically derail NFL careers, especially for a 28-year-old defensive back. It may be worth the Eagles doing some due diligence to determine if he’s reconsidered surgery or what a medical exam would reveal.
If he can regain even a fraction of his early-career form—where he logged 19 interceptions over his first six seasons—a one-year, $1.5 million prove-it deal could be a low-risk, high-reward move for Philadelphia.
According to The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han, Williams sidestepped questions about his health upon returning for the 2024 season. After the year ended, Baltimore restructured his contract to minimize their financial burden, splitting $15.2 million in dead money across 2025 and 2026. By designating him as a post-June 1 release, the Ravens will save $2.1 million in 2025.
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