Utah safety Marcus Williams drafted by New Orleans Saints

The Pac-12 has seen its third defensive back get drafted during the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints selected Utah Utes safety Marcus Williams with the tenth overall pick in the second round of the draft.

Williams’s versatility should come in handy for a porous Saints pass defense.

Williams’ prowess in the run game might be his most desirable asset — per Pro Football Focus, he had the highest run-stop percentage of all FBS safeties last year — but the safety’s interception numbers are hard to ignore.

The safety always seems to be in the right position, setting himself up for potential interception opportunities in coverage. But Williams also has the athleticism to deploy as a single-high or double-high safety and dart down to make plays on the ball when possible. He can high-point the ball with ease, showcasing his ridiculous vertical — he reached 43.5 inches at the Combine.

Williams joins Washington safety Budda Baker (to the Arizona Cardinals) and Washington cornerback Kevin King (to the Green Bay Packers) as the three Pac-12 defensive backs selected in this round. Adoree’ Jackson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans.