Evan Williams 2024 NFL Draft Profile
The 2024 NFL Draft class for Safeties might be lacking, but this means that someone no one is really talking about could step up and make some noise. I think a candidate for that is Oregon’s Evan Williams. I loved what I saw at the Senior Bowl, and after a good showing at the NFL Combine, he should be moving up boards. What does his draft profile look like? Let’s talk about it.
Williams, a former four-star recruit, was a stat sheet stuffer in College. He did four years at Fresno State, with his 2021 season being his best. Williams finished that year with 90 (!) tackles, four passes defended and three interceptions. He would transfer to Oregon last season, finishing with 82 tackles and a really solid 4.5 sacks.
To quote Trey, the girls who get it get it, those who don’t don’t. If you don’t get it with Evan Williams, I think you’re missing out. The thing that stands out is how prolific a tackler he was. That aggression and downfield steam he plays with can find a way on my team any day. He feels like a Box Safety, which seems to be valuable in the NFL now. But he has the acceleration and hip fluidity to change direction in pass coverage. The footwork is already sharp but you can see room for improvement. Those sacks his last year too, goodness.
I think he can improve on short-area man coverage. If you ask him to play up and grab a guy, he just feels a little hesitant. We can coach that out. The pure straight-line speed isn’t totally there, so he could get blown by at times on go routes. I don’t know, I think there is a ton of great stuff already here and it’s mostly little things we can iron out in camp.
I would make it a point to get Evan Williams on my team. He plays with such passion and has a nose for the football that he should easily find a spot on a roster. I have a third-round grade on him, and pending my Safety situation, I would expect him to compete early and see the field in some capacity his rookie year. Would likely be a training camp standout, just keep an eye out.
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