The Tennessee Titans selected linebacker James Williams out of Miami in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft. He wasn’t Mr. Irrelevant, but with the 242nd pick, he was in the running. Most of the time, players selected near the end of the draft are unknown and remain that way through their careers. Tom Brady is an exception, and every year, there are players drafted on day three who surprise us all.
This year, it seems Williams will be the guy flying under the radar for the Titans. No one notices him, but his impact on the field is noticed. CBS Sports actually named him one of five day-three rookies who could make a difference in 2024.
While he technically played safety at the University of Miami, his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame is better suited to linebacker. Speed isn’t his forte, and that’s something that’s needed at safety in the NFL, so it was a natural transition. From CBS Sports, in part:
What he does bring to every game is an intimidating nature en route to the football. And he sprinkles in some coverage chops and plus ball skills with his over 80-inch wingspan. He absolutely will miss some tackles. He’ll also de-cleat running backs more frequently than most young players at the position.
He has four tackles on 47 snaps this preseason and three have been constituted as “stops,” essentially meaning a negative play for the offense relative to the down and distance. Williams has yet to be targeted in coverage. While we didn’t get a full workout before the draft, and he only ran 4.65, Williams plays with zero hesitation and reckless abandon, and every defense can use a second-level defender with those qualities. The seventh-round pick should make this Titans team and contribute right away.
Williams has one more shot on Sunday to show what he brings to the table before the final 53-man roster cuts are made. But if he continues to play as he has during the preseason, there’s no reason to think he won’t be on the final list.