Jamaal Williams Cracks NFL Network Top 100

New Saints RB Jamaal Williams is the first New Orleans player (kind of) to crack the NFL Network's top-100 players from 2022.

New Orleans Saints RB Jamaal Williams is the team's first player to crack the NFL Network's top-100 players from 2022. Williams, who played with the Detroit Lions last year, comes in at 95 on the NFL Network top 100 countdown.

This is the 13th consecutive year that the NFL Network has done such a countdown. Players from 100 to 1 are determined by a poll of current NFL players.

Williams, 28, is making his first career appearance on the top-100 list. A fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, Williams was a collegiate teammate of Taysom Hill with BYU. He'd play his first four years with the Packers, where he rushed for a total of 1,985 yards and caught 122 passes for 961 yards while scoring 18 total touchdowns. 

In 2021, the Detroit Lions inked Williams as a free agent. He'd rush for then career-best 601 yards in his first year with Detroit, also catching 26 balls for 157 yards. Over his first five seasons, he was relegated to backup or situational duty.

Williams finally had a chance to shine as a featured back with the Lions in 2022. He'd respond with a career-high 1,066 rushing yards and an NFL-high 17 scores on the ground. Williams had seven games with at least 65 yards rushing, including two 100-yard outings. 

Jun 13, 2023; New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (30) during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

New Orleans signed Williams to a three-year contract this offseason. His deal is for $12 million for the duration, with $9 million in guaranteed money. The 6-foot and 224-Lb. Williams is expected to be a big part of the New Orleans offensive attack.

Yes, the Saints still have Alvin Kamara. However, Kamara is expected to miss a portion of the year with a league suspension, with Williams then assuming the backfield load. Even when Kamara is in the lineup, Williams will provide a bona-fide rushing threat, allowing New Orleans to use Kamara more as a receiver.