Everyone with more than one green-and-gold shirt in their closet knows that the Green Bay Packers need to fill out their suddenly vacant wide receiver room, but no one is sure who that next deep threat will be.
Jameson Williams is one candidate to watch.
The best aspect of Williams’ game is his deep-route running. If you look at any of his highlight reels, almost every play is him torching the defense for a touchdown deep. Throughout his career, Williams has never averaged under 17 yards per reception. In 2021, he averaged 19.9 yards per reception on 79 catches. That statistic is absolutely unreal.
Williams gets constantly praised for being a deep threat, but his intermediate routes sometimes get overlooked. He’s one of those players who can score whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
Not only was he able to create a meaningful amount of separation with his precise route running, but he was able to maintain that separation throughout the play and take it to the house. His elite speed perfectly complements his twitchy route running, leaving some of college football’s best in the dust. Combine this with second-year receiver Amari Rodgers, and you have one of the fastest duos in the NFL.
Check out this short highlight reel of some of Williams’ best plays throughout his Alabama career.
Williams’ unbelievable playmaking on special teams will also endear him to the Packers’ coaching staff. I was surprised to see Alabama line up their No. 1 receiver as a gunner, but I instantly saw why. Williams is a game-breaking special-teams player, which any NFL team needs. Most players are reluctant to play on special teams, but Williams prided himself on it. With how much Green Bay’s special teams struggled last year, Williams would be one of the easiest solutions to this gapping issue.
Drafting him will prevent returns like this from happening again.
Take a look at Williams’s surefire tackle against one of the nation’s best returners, Kearis Jackson.
Not only is he a great gunner, but Williams is also an electrifying returner himself.
Playing on special teams as a star player is a sign of a great work ethic, something that Williams has.
Some of Williams’ negative attributes also make him great. Williams has Tyreek Hill-like speed, but he also has a smaller frame. Williams is 6’2”, 188 lbs. and has struggled to break free from press coverage at times due to his lack of strength.
However, don’t let his size make you think he isn’t a good blocker. Williams is very aggressive and is not afraid to bring defenders to the ground.
People will be quick to mention his injury in the National Championship. Williams suffered a torn ACL, but there’s reason to believe that won’t hamper him in the future. Everyone thought Williams was severely injured when he went down. However, the camera cuts to him in sweatpants, walking on a torn ACL a few moments later. Most people expect Williams to be near 100% by the time the draft comes. His injury shouldn’t affect his draft stock at all.
DeSean Jackson is the first player who comes to mind when looking at Williams’ skillset and size. Both are smaller-framed deep-threat receivers who will also contribute to special teams.
Williams originally played for Ohio State, but they buried him on the depth chart. Don’t let this fool you — he was electric when he could get the ball. Take a look at this big-stage touchdown against Clemson in the college football playoffs.
Williams decided to make a Joe Burrow-like transfer and played his final year of college football at Alabama.
Going into 2021, Alabama had only one returning receiver with any experience, John Metchie. Heisman winner Devontae Smith and Jaylen Waddle went on to the NFL, leaving the wide receiver room extremely inexperienced.
Williams made the most out of his year in Tuscaloosa, recording 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns on only 79 receptions. Consider that Williams was suspended in Alabama’s game against Auburn for a targeting call and missed about half of the National Championship.
If the Packers were to draft Williams, they could instantly thrust him into the WR1 role, similar to how he was at Alabama. Considering how he excelled so quickly in Alabama, Green Bay could reasonably expect a big rookie season out of him.
Williams’ stock has steadily been rising in the past few weeks. Scouts are getting wise.
The Packers may have to trade up to get Williams. If they do, they will end up with one of the most talented receivers in this year’s draft.
