2017 NFL Draft Profile: Clemson WR Mike Williams

Clemson Tigers WR Mike Williams is a Redshirt Junior from Santee, South Carolina. He broke out in 2014, his sophomore year, recording over a 1,000 yards on only 57 receptions. But in the first game of 2015, he suffered a season ending neck injury.

Ht: 6’4”

Weight: 218 lbs.

40-yard dash: 4.49

Mike Williams bounced back from the injury and put up 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns on 98 receptions in 2016. This became Williams’ second 1,000 yard season in which he cemented his place as an elite receiver. Ranked as the top receiver in the draft, Williams comes in with a slightly different pedigree than other receivers. While other receivers in the draft, such as Corey Davis, were the focal point of their team’s offense this year but that is not the case with Williams. He only accounted for 18% of Clemson’s total yards this year making his 1,000 yard season even more impressive.

Williams has the ability to climb the ladder on opposing defensive backs which NFL teams love. He has received comparisons to Calvin Johnson in this regard. He is not known for his speed but he can get up field and make plays like his 50 yard catch vs. Boston College. He ran a 4.49 40 yard dash at Clemson’s pro day proving to teams that he has the speed to be very effective. Overall, Williams has the potential to be a true number 1 NFL WR. I firmly believe that Williams deserves to be a top 10 pick. Some mock drafts have him sliding into the 20’s but no team in the top 15 can afford passing on a player who can make such a big impact right out of the gate.

He is considered top either the number 1 or 2 receiver in the 2017 NFL Draft. The biggest concerns for Williams will be his route running and his work over the middle of the field in the NFL. Because he wasn’t asked to do much of that at Clemson there is some uncertainty for him in the NFL. But that shouldn’t hurt his draft stock too much. His physical ability guarantees that he’ll go in the first round this year.