Saints selected Utah S Marcus Williams with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
As they should, the Saints are going all in on fixing their defense. Williams (6’1/202) made 30 starts in three years at Utah before turning pro, amassing 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles while working primarily as a center-field, single-high free safety. PFF College also charted Williams with the highest run-stop percentage among all Division-1 safeties in 2016, and the No. 2 tackle efficiency rating. Williams proceeded to blow up the Combine with 93rd-percentile SPARQ results, including an outrageous 43 ½-inch vertical. He also aced the Wonderlic (34) and is young for a rookie, not turning 21 until September. We’re not sure why Williams didn’t generate more pre-draft buzz.