Due to salary cap concerns, the New Orleans Saints will release running back Jamaal Williams. According to reports, the team is cleaning house before free agency, and to no surprise they are releasing the veteran. Originally selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the former BYU product signed a three-year deal with the Saints after having a career year in 2022 for the Detroit Lions. Since joining New Orleans, he hasn’t been making much of an impact on the Saints’ run game where in 27 games with five starts, Williams put 470 rushing yards and two touchdowns while hauling in 27 passes for 119 receiving yards.
Last season, the Saints gave Alvin Kamara a new contract extension which has made Williams expendable as the backup. Former head coach Dennis Allen lost his patience with Kendre Miller so it’s somewhat surprising the Saints would release Williams. However, since Miller is still younger, the Saints could probably give him an opportunity to fight for the backup job. Meanwhile, the Saints are letting go of Williams is having the worst season last year but he could carve out a role for a new team.
Williams isn’t going to be a starter anymore in the league but these two teams could give him the juice to blossom in a new offense.
Saints Will Release Former NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader Jamaal Williams – Chargers, Ravens Should Be Interested
JK Dobbins Coming Back?
There haven’t been extension talks between the Los Angeles Chargers and running back J.K. Dobbins yet. This means the team will probably look for a major upgrade in that department as head coach Jim Harbaugh loves to win football games with a physical run game. In that case, the Chargers will probably sign the best available running back in the free agent market this offseason as the team has money to burn. However, Dobbins was their best runner last year while backup Gus Edwards was looking more of a journeyman despite being the backup all 2024 campaign.
It shouldn’t be surprising if the Chargers release Edwards after one season and move Dobbins to another one-year deal as their new backup. Even though Justin Herbert needs more pass catchers, he still needs a capable running back who will be consistent and take the majority of the snaps. Jamaal Williams probably won’t do that in this offense but as the Chargers will likely run the ball again, they need all the help in that department that they can.
Backup for Derrick Henry
A strange running back signing for the Baltimore Ravens could happen. However, the Ravens need more of a dependable backup other than Keaton Mitchell who’s been depleting despite returning to the lineup last year. Justice Hill is more of a “dump-off” specialist on screenplays so they can’t afford to send him out on the field as often as they would like.
Williams won’t start ahead of Derrick Henry but he will likely be the ideal backup. He isn’t going to put in a 1,000-yard campaign but with what the Ravens are building on offense, he could keep the guy to keep moving the chains.
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