The Marcus Williams era in Baltimore is officially over — and it ended with more of a thud than a bang. Once considered a marquee free-agent signing, Williams was released by the Ravens this offseason with a post-June 1 designation. After battling injuries and ultimately losing his starting job, the move wasn’t all that surprising.
The only question now: Where does he go next?
Turns out, it might not be a long wait. Per The Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye, Williams visited the Carolina Panthers on Monday alongside fellow safety Julian Blackmon. The Panthers, who are reshaping their defense under general manager Dan Morgan, are in desperate need of safety depth and may offer Williams the chance to reboot his career.
Baltimore, meanwhile, will save $2.1 million in cap space with the post-June 1 release. It’s not a huge number, but with $6.7 million in dead money set to hit next year, it’s a move that clears the deck more than anything. And for a team trying to reload behind Kyle Hamilton, it signals a continued youth movement in the secondary.
When the Ravens signed Williams to a five-year, $70 million deal in 2022, it felt like a strong move at the time. He was a proven ballhawk with 15 career interceptions in New Orleans, and he wasted no time making an impact—picking off three passes in his first two games as a Raven.
Unfortunately that momentum didn’t last.
Injuries derailed his time in Baltimore, limiting him to just 11 games in 2023 and only 12 the year before. He didn’t record a single interception last season and was benched after Week 11. His Pro Football Focus grade bottomed out at 42.9 — ranking 161st out of 171 safeties. By the end of his Ravens’ tenure, he wasn’t even seeing the field, he was listed as inactive.
Despite the rough ending, Williams still has value. He’s only 28 and brings playoff experience, leadership, and 20 career interceptions to the table.
Carolina, who already signed Tre’von Moehrig and re-signed Nick Scott, may view Williams as a low-risk, high-upside veteran to round out their defensive rebuild.
In Baltimore, the page has clearly turned. Hamilton is the star. Ar’Darius Washington is on the rise. And Marcus Williams is now just another reminder that not every big splash pays off, at least not the way the Ravens hoped.
Overall, he’s a good guy who didn’t find his footing in Baltimore. Here’s to hoping he will in Charlotte.