Mykel Williams – Syndication Server

Pass rusher to Cardinals in new NFL.com mock draft

A look at another mock draft and what player the Cardinals land with the 16th overall pick.

Mock drafts will be all the rage for the next more than two months as teams like the Arizona Cardinals prepare for the 2025 NFL draft. NFL.com’s Eric Edholm has a new first-round mock draft that comes after Senior Bowl week.

The Arizona Cardinals have the 16th pick in eth first round.

Who do the Cardinals land?

They get Georgia edge defender Mykel Williams.

This defense needs help at multiple spots. Williams and 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson could be a strong duo for Jonathan Gannon’s unit to build around.

He is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds and dealt with an ankle injury during the season for Georgia. He looks the part and had five sacks in 2024.

The edge is the Cardinals’ most glaring need. Their leader in sacks the last two seasons was Zaven Collins with five in 2024 and Dennis Gardeck with six in 2023.

They have BJ Ojulari but he missed all last year with a torn ACL. They believe he will be very good, but he just hasn’t done it.

Williams is one of a few promising pass rushers who could go in the first round this year.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

Daniel Jeremiah gives Saints high-ceiling pass rusher in first 2025 mock

NFL Media draft expert Daniel Jeremiah linked the New Orleans Saints to Mykel Williams, a high-ceiling pass rusher from an SEC powerhouse:

The New Orleans Saints have invested a lot into the defensive line in recent years, but have not gotten much in return. This upcoming draft will be yet another chance for them to finally hit a home run with a pass rusher.

NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah expects them to dip back into that well, at least. In his first mock draft of the 2025 cycle, the Saints selected Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams with the ninth overall pick.

This is what Jeremiah had to say about this selection:

The Saints continue to add young, athletic players to their defensive front. Williams played hurt all season long, but his tools are exceptional.

Some New Orleans fans may be wary about adding a toolsy, injured defensive end and that would be fair. Williams has been a superstar since high school, though, and has a higher ceiling than either Payton Turner or Isaiah Foskey. Taking a risk on him would make the most sense of anyone they’ve drafted on the exterior since Cameron Jordan.

The 20-year-old was able to carve out a role for himself in the Bulldogs defense as a freshman, which is no small task. His role never really grew throughout his time in college though, and the production remained consistent. He had either 4.5 or five sacks in each campaign. There’s a bit of projection here but the traits speak for themselves.

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3 Georgia Bulldogs go in first-round Mel Kiper’s mock draft

Three Georgia Bulldogs elected in Mel Kiper’s first 2025 NFL mock draft.

Seventeen Georgia Bulldogs have declared for the NFL draft. In ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s first official 2025 NFL mock draft, three Bulldogs were selected in the top 20 picks including two in the top 10.

Here are the three Georgia players selected in Mel Kiper’s mock draft.

Mykel Williams, 8th pick, New York Jets

In Kiper’s draft, Mykel Williams gets selected 8th overall by the Jets. New York suffered a disastrous 5-12 record and while the offensive side didn’t deliver on the hype, the defense was a major sore spot after head coach Robert Saleh was fired.

The Jets already have a great one-two punch of pass rushers with Will McDonald and former Georgia transfer Jermaine Johnson III, but Johnson III suffered a torn ACL. Will McDonald has a weakness in run defense, which is one of Mykel Williams’s strengths.

Jalon Walker, 9th pick, Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers had one of the worst defenses in the NFL and a big reason for that was their pass rush, which was bottom five in sacks production. Getting Georgia’s most accomplished pass rusher will be a boon for them. Walker is considered by many as a Swiss-Army-Knife linebacker, even getting comparisons to Micah Parsons in the past. Walker could change the Carolina defense overnight.

Malaki Starks, 13th pick, Miami Dolphins

This could be the second year two high-profile Georgia players end up getting drafted to rival teams. In Mel Kiper’s mock draft, it’s a reality with Starks and Mykel Williams both going to AFC East teams. Starks is a rangy safety and the ultimate ballhawk.

He can cover the slot, with some experience at nickelback and he can play free safety, something the Dolphins could need considering the uncertainty around pending free agents Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer.

Here’s the rest of Kiper’s mock draft:

Should Saints consider Georgia DL Mykel Williams? 2025 NFL draft projection

Should the New Orleans Saints select standout Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams in the 2025 NFL draft?

The New Orleans Saints have a lot of holes to address in the 2025 NFL draft and one of the biggest needs has been hard for them to scout in recent years: defensive end.

Sitting with the No. 9 overall spot in the draft, there are a couple of names that tend to pop up with some frequency. One such player is standout Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams. Should Mickey Loomis consider taking him and another shot at ending their woes at the position.

There is at least one thing that Loomis is sure to like about him, his size. Weighing in at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, that puts his in the zone of frame that the Saints have exclusively gone after in the draft.

Williams is eerily similar of a prospect to Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey, which might have some people out on him almost immediately.

The 20-year-old is strong and violent against tackles, but does rely more on that than an actual set of pass rush moves.

One other thing that does slightly raise some concerns about Williams is that he doesn’t have a season that stands out in terms of production. His career-high in sacks came this past year with five.

While it has been frustrating to watch Turner and Foskey waste away, it doesn’t mean that New Orleans should never draft players that are built similarly. It just means that they should be more open about drafting outside of that set profile.

In this case, though, Williams might be too close to be that attractive of a prospect. He is his own player and could very well turn out to be a star, but the Saints need change. That being said, he seems right up Loomis’ alley and should be considered a likely option if he is available come pick No. 9.

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Bengals picks in latest 2-round mock draft attack problematic area

The Bengals attack one area specifically in a new mock draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals are entering an important offseason. Coming off back-to-back missed postseasons, the Bengals are tasked with figuring out how to keep wide receiver Tee Higgins and also are looking to revamp the defense.

The draft will also supply an opportunity for the Bengals to add some talent to help keep their championship window open. Cincinnati will hold the No. 17 pick in the first round.

Mock drafts are in full swing with college all-star games on the horizon. That includes the great Dane Brugler of The Athletic posting his second mock of the season. We’ll take a look here at his two picks for the Bengals — which attack the trenches.

First, at No. 17, the Bengals select Georgia Edge Mykel Williams. This would mark the second year in a row the Bengals take a player from Georgia. Last year, it was offensive tackle Amarius Mims. This one would add much-needed help in the pass rush. Trey Hendrickson can’t do it all, though he almost did in 2024 with a league-leading 17.5 sacks.

Williams brings a motor that would complement well with Hendrickson with room to grow.

“Last year, the Bengals drafted a toolsy offensive lineman from Georgia in the first round (Amarius Mims),” wrote Brugler. “They flip to the other side of the ball and do it again in this mock. Williams looked like a future top-10 pick as a freshman, but he didn’t quite reach dominant status over his three seasons in Athens. The talent, however, is there for him to grow into a game-wrecker off the edge.”

Williams recorded five sacks in 2024 and 14 for his career. He also forced two fumbles this season and had two sacks in the SEC Championship against Texas.

In the second round, pick No. 49, the Bengals add to the offensive line with Marcus Mbow of Purdue. Mbow is a three-year starter for the Boilermakers, having experience at both tackle and guard. He started all 12 games at tackle this season after missing the second half of the 2023 season with a broken leg.

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Cardinals add pair of pass rushers in new 2-round mock draft

In a new two-round mock draft, the Cardinals take pass rushers with their first two picks of the draft.

With the conclusion of the Arizona Cardinals’ season, we must look straight ahead into the offseason and that includes the NFL draft.

Probably the Cardinals’ biggest need is with their edge defenders, as they have no premium pass rushers.

In a new Draft Wire two-round mock draft from Curt Popejoy, the Cardinals add two edge defenders with their first two picks in the draft.

In the first round they Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams.

Williams is 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He had five sacks, nine tackles for loss and two forced fumbles to go with 21 total tackles last season for the Bulldogs. In three seasons, he had 14 sacks and 23 tackles for loss.

In the second round, they double up on the edge, taking Ole Miss EDGE Princely Umanmielen. Umanmielen played four seasons for Florida and transferred last year to Ole Miss. He is 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds. He had 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season after 15 sacks and 26 tackles for loss in four seasons for the Gators.

With Zaven Collins, BJ Ojulari and potentially the return of Baron Browning, that would be solid core of edge defenders.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

All-SEC Georgia edge rusher declares for NFL draft

Projected first-round pick Georgia edge rusher announced he’s declaring for the 2025 NFL draft.

Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Mykel Williams announced his decision to declare for the 2025 NFL draft. Williams was a second-team All-SEC selection during the 2024 college football season.

“Georgia will always be home, and I will forever be proud to call myself a Dawg,” Williams said in a social media post announcing his plans. “Thank you for everything.”

Willliams was a former five-star recruit from Columbus, Georgia, before signing with Georgia in 2022. Ever since then, he’s developed into one of the Bulldogs’ best edge rushers.

With Georgia, he racked up 67 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks in 40 games. He especially shows up in big games. In every preseason game dating back to his debut in 2022, he totaled five sacks and seven tackles for loss.

Williams joins several Georgia players, including star defensive players Warren Brinson, Malaki Starks and Jalon Walker. He’s been mocked in several drafts as a top-10 pick, and according to the Mock Draft Database, he’s second on the big board of edge rushers.

Saints add talented pass-rusher in latest ESPN mock draft

The New Orleans Saints were linked to an elite athlete at defensive end from an SEC powerhouse in the latest ESPN mock draft:

The New Orleans Saints have plenty of holes that need to be filled this offseason, but the defensive line stands out as one of the biggest.

Despite the Saints pouring countless assets into the defensive line, they are still among the weakest teams in the NFL at getting to the quarterback.

To help fill this void, ESPN analyst Field Yates had New Orleans select Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams with the No. 10 overall selection in his latest mock draft.

Here is what Yates had to say about the selection:

“The SEC championship game was a great chance to see why Williams is such a tantalizing prospect. He notched two sacks in an overtime win against Texas, giving him five on the season. Williams is as impressive physically as any player in the class, as he has rare length and fluidity for the edge position. His ability to bend the edge and generate pressure makes him a potential Pro Bowl-level pass rusher in the NFL, particularly when he is asked to pin his ears back and rush more than he has for a deep Georgia front.

The Saints need the help, ranking 28th in pass rush win rate (35.0%). Cameron Jordan will be 36 next season, and Chase Young is signed for only this season.”

Williams is the quintessential early draft Saints pass rusher. He is very large and athletic, but has not been very productive in his college career.

The junior has 14 sacks over three seasons with 23 total tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles.

While it makes sense for New Orleans to draft a pass-rusher, and Williams is an exciting athlete, it would hurt to see them fall back into this trap once again. They clearly have not been able to develop this type of player in the past, so it may be time to try something new.

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Georgia’s top SEC championship performers

Impact players in the Georgia Bulldogs’ 22-19 win over the Texas Longhorns in the SEC championship

The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Texas Longhorns in the 2024 SEC championship thanks to several standout performances. In the 22-19 defensive minded SEC championship win for the Bulldogs, who are the bright spots for Georgia during the Dawgs’ comeback victory?

Quarterback Gunner Stockton

In a game where Stockton thought he was not going to play, he stepped up in the most important game of his career. Stockton was taking what the defense gave him through going 12 of 16 with 71 yards.

He added a rushing dynamic that helped the UGA offense. In the first possession after halftime, he helped dissect Texas’ defense to take the 10-6 lead. In late fourth quarter, he threw a costly interception that turned into a Texas field goal to send the game into overtime. In overtime, he was decisive and showed off his toughness after taking a huge hit from Texas safety Andrew Mukuba.

ALSO SEE: Celebrate Georgia’s 15th SEC Championship with exclusive merchandise!

Running back Trevor Etienne

Trevor Etienne’s injury status was up in the air due a rib injury. Carson Beck left the game with an upper body injury, then Etienne stepped up to aid the comeback. He became the focal point of the offense gaining over 100 total yards and scoring the only two touchdowns for the Georgia offense including the game-winning touchdown in overtime to crown the Bulldogs SEC champions.

“This why you come to Georgia,” Etienne said during his postgame interview. Etienne transferred from the Florida Gators to Georgia during last offseason.

Defensive back Daylen Everette

Daylen Everette has faced an insane amount of adversity during his time at Georgia. He was picked on last season, but was the shut down corner in the SEC championship. He had two interceptions against a very experienced quarterback in Quinn Ewers. Everette has been progressively been getting better this season and played his two best games versus Texas.

Entire front seven

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Warren Brinson (97) reacts after defeating the Texas Longhorns in overtime in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Georgia front seven made their mark all game. In the previous matchup, they had seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. In the SEC title game, they accounted for six sacks and 15 tackles for loss against Texas offensive lineman.

The most talented player in this front seven, junior defensive lineman Mykel Williams, played out of his mind with two sacks and two tackles for loss. Another player that showed up big time was senior defensive lineman Warren Brinson with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Three Georgia Bulldogs picked in first round of NFL mock draft

Three-round 2025 NFL mock draft has four Bulldogs selected.

PFF released its latest three-round 2025 NFL mock draft, and four Georgia Bulldogs were selected in this draft, including three in the first round. With Georgia players potentially graduating, declaring for the draft, or entering the transfer portal, the Bulldogs are working on signing recruits to replace these Georgia players.

Here are the Bulldogs selected in PFF’s mock draft:

No. 10: S Malaki Starks, Cincinnati Bengals

Starks has progressed ever since Georgia recruited him in 2021. He was a part of the championship squad in 2022, became a Consensus All-American in 2023, and could win a major award in 2024.

The Bengals need significant help in the secondary, especially at safety, and with Starks, Cincinnati will get a rangy safety with an elite football IQ. The Bengals have been looking for a Jessie Bates replacement and Starks could be that.

No. 11: EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, Chicago Bears

Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Walker is a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher with elite pass-rushing abilities, which has drawn him comparisons to Micah Parsons. He’s racked up over 20 pressures in the past two seasons and has an 81.6 pass-rushing grade this year.

The Bears, who recently promoted a former Georgia running back to head coach, could choose to address the defensive side of the ball. Walker can pair with Montez Sweat to form an elite pass-rushing duo.

No. 29: EDGE Mykel Williams, Philadelphia Eagles

Other mock drafts have picked Mykel Williams higher, but even with the slide, Williams lands in a perfect spot. Philadelphia needs reinforcements at the edge, with Brandon Graham retiring and Josh Sweat heading into free agency. The Eagles already have several Georgia Bulldogs on their roster, including Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, and Nakobe Dean in their front seven.

No. 56: OG Tate Ratledge, Baltimore Ravens

Ratledge has been a stalwart guard for five years at Georgia. In the past three seasons, he’s earned over an 80 PFF grade in pass-blocking and over a 69 PFF grade in run-blocking. The Ravens need offensive line reinforcements, especially in the guard spots.