Getting a running back who’s coming off a 17-touchdown season, as the New Orleans Saints have done with the signing of former Detroit Lions back Jamaal Williams, would seem to be a total slam-dunk. And it is in a lot of ways, but there are come questions about Williams’ running style that would complicate things were the deal not so team-friendly — three years, $12 million, with just $8 million guaranteed.
It’s not that Williams is a bad running back — he’s obviously not, and that’s not really the point. The point is that if the Saints want him to be their workhorse guy — and they may have no choice if Alvin Kamara serves any kind of suspension based on charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm — New Orleans’ offensive line will have to be expert in opening gaps for Williams. If that’s the case, he’s great. But Williams, even at 6-foot-0 and 224 pounds, is not a guy who’s going to rule the game after contact. Last season, he forced just 30 missed tackles on 262 attempts — for context, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders led the league with 90 missed tackles forced — and Williams’ average of 2.78 yards after contact per carry is similarly average to below-average.
