NFL CAREER – Selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State, P.J. Williams rebounded after missing the majority of his first two seasons due to injuries, appearing in all 16 regular season games and both postseason contests. Williams found a significant role in New Orleans' secondary, where he finished the regular season with 47 tackles, two interceptions and nine passes defensed, chipping in five more stops and two pass deflections in the postseason. In 2018, Williams should benefit from further development and experience as he competes for a starting position in the secondary.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Placed on reserve/injured, 9/21/16; Placed on reserve/injured, 9/1/15; Signed to a four-year contract, 5/12/15; Selected by the Saints in the third round (78th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft.
2017 – Played in all 16 regular season games and started six. Recorded 47 tackles (34 solo), nine passes defensed and two interception returns for seven yards. In two postseason contests made five tackles (four solo) and two passes defensed…In opener at Minnesota, Sept. 11, started and finished with eight tackles (four solo)…Vs. New England, Sept. 7, started and finished with career-high ten tackles (career-high eight solo) and one pass defensed…At Carolina, Sept. 24, started and had three tackles (two solo), his first career interception, which took place in the second quarter and one pass defensed…Vs. Tampa Bay, Nov. 5, had two assisted tackles and one pass defensed…At Buffalo, Nov. 12, had one solo tackle and one pass defensed…Vs. Washington, Nov. 19, posted eight tackles (five solo)…At L.A. Rams, Nov. 26, started in Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley's absence and had three solo tackles, one interception and a career-high three passes defensed…Vs. Carolina, Dec. 3, started at RCB in substitute for Lattimore and had four solo tackles…At Atlanta, Dec. 7, saw action as the third CB and posted two solo tackles and one pass defensed…Vs. New York Jets, Dec. 17, posted one assisted tackle…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, started in a multiple DB formation and posted four solo tackles and a pass defensed. 2016 – Started the first two contests and recorded six tackles (five solo) and two passes defensed before being sidelined for the season's finale 15 weeks following a concussion suffered at New York Giants, Sept. 18. 2015 – Missed most of training camp and the entire regular season (hamstring).
COLLEGE – Started 24 of the 40 games in which he played at Florida State from 2012-14 before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior year…Recorded 123 tackles (82 solo) with one sack, four interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, 18 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…As a junior in 2014, started all 13 games he played in, finishing with 74 tackles (52 solo), one sack, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Semifinalist for Thorpe Award, USA Today All-America second-team selection and a first-team All-ACC selection…As a sophomore in 2013, blossomed into one of the ACC's best defensive backs, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors from conference media and coaches. Captured Defensive MVP honors in BCS National Championship Game vs. Auburn after making seven tackles, including a half-tackle for loss and interception on consecutive plays at the start of the fourth quarter when the Seminoles trailed 21-13. Pick of Auburn QB Nick Marshall provided a spark and led to an FSU TD. In 13 games with 11 starts, he recorded 35 tackles (21 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and seven passes defensed. A key member of the nation's number one-ranked pass defense (156.6 ypg.) and third-ranked total defense (281.4 ypg.). FSU also led the nation in interceptions (26) and scoring defense (12.1 ppg.)…As afreshman, played in 14 games, posting 14 tackles and one pass defensed.
PERSONAL: Played safety and wide receiver for Vanguard (Ocala, Fla.) HS and was named school's first-ever Under Armour All-American...Recorded 52 tackles as a senior and earned AP Class 6A All-State first-team honors as a defensive utility player...Played in Under Armour All-America game...Named Ocala Star-Banner first-team All-County, to the Super 75 by the Florida Times-Union and ranked number 52 on the Orlando Sentinel's 2012 Florida Top 100...Has been clocked with sub 4.4 time in 40-yard dash...Earned All-County honors as a junior after logging 83 tackles and an interception as the starting safety...Posted a county-best 33.8-yards-per-return average on kickoffs, including a school-record four touchdowns as a sophomore…Served as a speaker at the 2015 New Orleans Saints/NFL High School Coaches Forum.
