Seth Williams: A Late Round Gem In the 2021 NFL Draft

The 2021 draft class features plenty of talented receivers. But that won’t stop later-round pass-catchers from becoming difference-makers at the next level. Auburn’s Seth Williams can be that late-round gem. Williams is a 6-foot-3 211-pound alpha presence on the outside. In a class that features a lot of slot receivers, Williams can be a true X.

In just his sophomore season, Seth Williams became Auburn’s leading receiver with 830 yards and 8 touchdowns on 59 receptions. He managed all that production despite poor quarterback play from Bo Nix. Williams accounted for a third of Nix’s passing yards, half of his touchdowns, and most of his completions. That is not saying much due to Nix’s disappointing 57% completion percentage which was dead last out of all SEC quarterbacks.

In Williams’s junior season it got even worse. Ending with 759 yards and 4 touchdowns on 47 catches is an admirable finish, but it is discouraging knowing what could’ve been if Nix played better. His completion percentage increased by 2% allowing him to finish as the third least accurate quarterback in the SEC. Williams dealt with the most uncatchable targets in all of college football. One of the main reasons for Williams’s lack of draft hype is solely due to Bo Nix.

Williams brings dominant ball skills to the offensive side of the ball. He can outleap defenders and make amazing catches. This skillset and size make him an elite red-zone threat. Watching him body defenders is Randy Moss-Esque, something all NFL teams should be looking to add come draft day.

Given his large stature, he struggles to create separation on routes, but we’ve seen players compensate for that with their size and athleticism before. Kenny Golladay just got a massive payday from the Giants without being a nuanced route-runner. That athleticism was put on display at Auburn’s pro day too. A 4.5 second 40-time, 37″ vertical, and 124″ broad jump proves his explosiveness to body defenders at the NFL level.

What is even more impressive is his ability after the catch. When he has the ball in his hands, he shows off his strength. Brushing off tackles is a surprising ability given his size. This allows Williams to be a threat in quick screens, avoiding ankle tackles and racking up yards.

Williams is expected to be a third or even fourth-round pick. If teams can look past the lack of production (due to Nix) they’ll see a true alpha presence who can make big plays. A downfield big-bodied threat is always a good option for quarterbacks in today’s pass-heavy league. Expect teams such as the Ravens or the Bills to take a chance on the Auburn product.

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