The Baltimore Ravens defense had a disastrous 2024 campaign. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr struggled to find the recipe for success for much of the season, and while the unit figured it out down the stretch, it was still an obvious struggle that needed fixing. One of the solutions was replacing safety Marcus Williams.
Baltimore signed Williams to a five-year $70 million contract in 2022, and though his tenure started well, it quickly took a downturn. After sustaining various injuries, it was clear that he was no longer the same player in 2024, being a key factor in Baltimore’s secondary issues. It was evident to anyone who watched the games that Williams was one of the main problems. While he took accountability for some of his errors, it sounds like he is reaching for every excuse possible.
On a podcast episode with former New Orleans Saints teammate Terron Armstead, Williams discussed the future of his NFL career, explaining what occurred in 2024 from his perspective. He outlined communication as the main area that led to the problems.
“I take accountability for whatever action that I did that they didn’t like. But, I didn’t know what actions those were,” Williams said. “As far as the communication from the top down, it could’ve been better. They could’ve communicated properly and effectively so that there was no missed communication when the switch was gonna occur.”
Marcus Williams was a prominent reason for the defense’s down year
Taking accountability in football is important. And to be fair to Williams, he handled the benching in the latter half of the season well. It can take a toll on a veteran starter when they become a consistent healthy scratch. But to say you did not know what actions the coaching staff did not like is concerning. Sure, there could have been a lack of communication in Orr’s first year as the defensive coordinator, but it was not hard to see the errors Williams was making.
The 28-year-old was a shell of his former self in 2024. He was not the playmaking safety he once was, giving up a 158.3 passer rating per Pro Football Focus (which is a perfect passer rating), and taking horrible angles in the open field. The issue was crystal clear, and Baltimore made a switch, benching the eight-year veteran.
The Ravens' defense got significantly better after benching Williams. Versatile safety Kyle Hamilton took more snaps as a deep safety, and breakout defender Ar’Darius Washington made the most of his new role. The group was one of the best defenses in football down the stretch, making a drastic turnaround and looking like a top unit in the NFL.
This turnaround made it clear Williams was part of the issue. They limited miscommunication during the second half. It makes his excuses seem desperate, as he continues his search for a new team in 2025.