While watching the College Football National Championship, I was amazed that the Clemson Tigers made it even to the playoffs without Mike Williams at wide receiver in 2015. He made fantastic grabs all night and single-handedly lowered the draft stock of Marlon Humphrey through absolute domination. Now he is preparing for the NFL draft, and despite his injury concerns, he is a top-20 lock. Here's why:
Measurables: Height- 6'3''
Weight- 225 lbs
Year:
Redshirt Junior (22)
2016 Stat Line:
98 receptions, 1361 yards, 11 TDs
Pros: Mike Williams is one of those wide receivers that redefines what in means to be a safety blanket. He is one of those special receivers that can come down with a catch no matter how inaccurate a ball is or how many people are covering him. He has a tremendous leaping ability and reaches the ball right at the high point of his jump, allowing him the best chance possible to come down with the football. While Williams has some drops, he makes just as many spectacular catches. Overall, his hands are strong in traffic and he does a good job of extending them so he does not catch with his body. Even if Williams does not look open on his routes, he actually usually is. When the ball is thrown, he has the rare ability to use his strength to position his body in a way where only he can make the catch. Part of this is due to his excellent size. He has the height and strength of a true number one receiver. After the catch, Mike Williams is not exactly a running back, but he has enough shiftiness and power to gain first downs on passes thrown short of the marker.
Cons: Williams does suffer from some concentration drops. Those will need to be ironed out. That goes for his route running too, as he more often than not runs a smooth route that does not deceive the corner as opposed to a route that is crisp and utilizes a hard cut or hip fake to make himself more open. What cannot be ironed out is Williams lack of top speed. I don't think he will run much faster than about a 4.65 at the combine and struggles to gain separation down the field. Thankfully if he refines his route running and continues to use his body effectively to get open he will still find success in the league. There is also the matter of the neck injury he sustained in 2015. Fortunately, it appears to have healed well and he should check out ok.
Player Comparison: Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Chicago Bears
Alshon Jeffrey is one of those receivers that wins without speed. He has strong hands, phenomenal body control, and has improved his route running since he came out of South Carolina. He also has a strong frame at 6'3'' and 216 lbs that allows him to beat coverages. Mike Williams ceiling also projects to be about the same as Jeffrey's which is a top ten wide receiver.
3 teams that fit him: Marcus Mariota has not had a steady presence at wide receiver since he entered the league, so the Titans would be wise in investing in some help for their young quarterback. Carson Wentz is also in desperate need of a wide receiver that catches the ball better than a brick wall, so Williams could finally give Wentz a reliable target. The Cardinals should also consider drafting Williams, as Larry Fitzgerald is getting old and the rest of the receiving corps is inconsistent at best.
Conclusion: Mike Williams is a special breed of wide receiver that is always somehow coming down with the football. His skills and size will make him a top-20 pick in this years draft.
All stats obtained from ESPN stats and information.
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