Broncos free agency: 5 safeties to target if Kareem Jackson is not back

3. Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints (age: 24, 25 in September)

Marcus Williams is a player Broncos GM George Paton will certainly never forget, whether he signs him in free agency or not.

Williams was on the other end of the Minneapolis Miracle play in the 2017 playoffs when the Vikings walked off on the New Orleans Saints.

Unlike Broncos safety Rahim Moore’s misplay in the 2012 postseason ultimately being the beginning of the end of his NFL career, Williams has bounced back from the Minneapolis Miracle to have a tremendous first contract with the New Orleans Saints.

The former 42nd overall pick out of Utah has 13 interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles in his first four NFL seasons along with 30 pass breakups and 246 total tackles. He’s been extremely productive at taking the ball away from the opposing team and is that not something the Broncos desperately need in their defense?

Williams has played in both single-high and two-high defensive schemes in New Orleans, so he would be able to make the transition to Fangio’s defense fairly easily.

At the age of 24, he is the youngest player on this list and obviously still offers a ton of upside moving forward. He’s also a freak of an athlete who ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash with a 43.5-inch vertical jump.

The Broncos need playmakers on the back end of the defense. Williams is precisely that.