2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Connor Williams

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Connor Williams, 6-5/296 Offensive Tackle Texas

Connor Williams Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Above-average athlete

Has some quickness

Flashes as a pass protector

Has quick enough feet

Agile in space

Athletic ability for his size

Good fit in a zone-blocking system

Can hit blocks at the second level

Weaknesses:

Not strong at all

Underweight

More of a guard build, but a weak guard

Physically has a hard time playing tackle

Durability

Short arms for a tackle – 33 inches

Weak base

Gets bull rushed

Susceptible to power moves

Struggled with speed guys

Plays soft

Summary: Williams is one of the most controversial prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft. He is loved by some in the media and has received a lot of hype. Some teams have him higher, but multiple teams have told me that they graded Williams in the mid-rounds. Williams is a love/hate prospect with a big range on where he could get selected.

Williams broke into the starting lineup at left tackle as a freshman for the Longhorns in 2015 and remained there as a sophomore. He had his best season in 2016 helping running back D’Onta Foreman to a big year. In 2017, Williams had a disappointing season opener against Maryland, getting flagged for numerous holds, including some that canceled out big plays for his team. He allowed some pressures and hits, too. Williams had a rough game against USC before he tore knee meniscus and strained ligaments midway through the first half. After missing seven games, Williams returned to play in the final couple of games of 2017 before shutting it down to prepare for the 2018 NFL Draft, skipping his bowl game.



There are some positives to Williams as a player. In pass protection, Williams shows that he is a good athlete with quickness on the edge. Williams has quick feet, balance, and gets depth in his kick slide. As a run blocker, Williams is at his best when he fires to the second level. He is an above-average athlete, so he is quick and agile in space. He can get to blocks on linebackers and defensive backs. His lack of size and strength is not masked when he takes on small defenders. He would be a nice fit for a zone-blocking scheme.

There are a lot of problems for Williams in the NFL. The biggest issues is that he is not strong at all. He plays soft and gets pushed around. He lacks strength in his base and speed rushers can give him problems. He has an issue with sustaining blocks as defenders can break away from his blocks.

As we reported in the Hot Press, Williams was receiving some mid-round grades from evaluators during the season. Some teams have Williams higher, while others really dislike his game. The main issue that sources said was hurting Williams is the lack of strength. One AFC team in need of tackle help said they gave him a late third-round, early fourth-round grade. Another said they gave him a fourth-rounder and could easily have graded him in the fifth round. I spoke with a NFC general manager who scouted Williams in person this season, and they were disappointed in Williams overall. They felt Williams lacked strength and thought him overhyped. This NFC general manager said they thought Williams was a fourth-rounder for them. Some sources felt he should move inside to guard.

For the NFL, Williams is a tweener guard/tackle. His height and lack of length would fit better at guard. However, his lack of strength would be very problematic on the inside as strong or heavy nose tackles will give him problems. His feet and athleticism would fit better at tackle, but he lacks strength there and speed rushers can give him problems. In the 2018 NFL Draft, Williams will probably be a second-day pick, although many mock drafts project Williams to go in the first round and it only takes one team to fall in love.





Player Comparison: Luke Joeckel. Williams’ skill set and play reminds me of Joeckel. Both lack power and can get pushed around at the point of attack. The difference between the two is that Joeckel (6-6, 307) is bigger than Williams and a better athlete. Joeckel was a mega-bust as the second-overall pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2013 NFL Draft. In the NFL, I think Williams could struggle in a similar manner to Joeckel as they both play soft.

NFL Matches: Jacksonville, New England, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Denver, Miami, Arizona, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Houston

There are a lot of teams that could be a fit for Williams in the 2018 NFL Draft. He could find a home with one of the playoff teams. The Jaguars’ offensive line could still get better and more talented. Williams could compete for the Jacksonville line at right tackle to replace Jeremy Parnell. New England lost Nate Solder in free agency, so Williams could interest the Patriots as a replacement.

Philadelphia needs another tackle of the future to pair with Lane Johnson. Johnson could go to left tackle to replace aging veteran Jason Peters with Williams being the starting right tackle.

Joe Thomas retired, meaning the Browns will need a new starter at left tackle, so it could be possible that they would think of Williams with one of their second-day picks.

Denver could use more offensive line help. The Broncos could book end Garett Bolles with Williams on the right side.

The Dolphins need help on the line and might not keep Ja’Wuan James for the long term. Miami could draft Williams on the second day and start him out at guard. If James isn’t in the long-term plans, then Williams could move to right tackle to form a tandem with Laremy Tunsil.

The Cardinals’ offensive line was a mess in 2017. If Arizona takes a quarterback in the first round, Williams could make sense for the organization as an offensive line upgrade on Day 2.

Baltimore could use more competition at guard and right tackle. Williams could be a competitor for the Ravens.

Even after trading for Cordy Glenn, Cincinnati could look to do more to improve its offensive line. Williams could be in play as competitor for the Bengals at right tackle or guard.

The Texans have three third-round picks and need offensive line help badly. Williams could interest new Houston general manager Brian Gaine.

2018 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Adonis Alexander, CB, Virginia Tech Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma Dorance Armstrong, DE, Kansas Marcel Ateman, WR, Oklahoma State Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State Sam Beal, CB, Western Michigan Andrew Brown, DE, Virginia Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma Taven Bryan, DT, Florida Lorenzo Carter, LB, Georgia D.J. Chark, WR, LSU Geron Christian, OT, Louisville Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Simmie Cobbs, WR, Indiana Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon James Daniels, C, Iowa Sam Darnold, QB, USC Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn Duke Dawson, CB, Florida Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama Luke Falk, QB, Washington State Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State Rasheem Green, DT, USC Derrius Guice, RB, LSU DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State Da'Shawn Hand, DE, Alabama Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama Will Hernandez, G, UTEP Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan Donte Jackson, CB, LSU Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa Derwin James, S, Florida State Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn Ronald Jones, RB, USC Arden Key, DE, LSU Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M Micah Kiser, LB, Virginia Harold Landry, DE, Boston College Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State Iman Marshall, CB, USC Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame Sony Michel, RB, Georgia Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland Nick Nelson, CB, Wisconsin Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford Billy Price, C, Ohio State Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State Justin Reid, S, Stanford Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State Jaylen Samuels, RB, N.C. State Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech Braden Smith, G, Auburn Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU Chad Thomas, DE, Miami Trenton Thompson, DT, Georgia Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State Vita Vea, DT, Washington Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson Connor Williams, OT, Texas Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia

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