Tag: Sam Williams

Ravens add plethora of talent in 7-round mock draft by ESPN

The Ravens added a plethora of talent in a seven-round mock draft by ESPN

The Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of tough decisions to make in a few weeks once draft weekend officially commences. The team has 10 draft picks including nine in the first four rounds, so they’ll have no shortage of opportunities to make the team better.

In a full seven-round 2022 mock draft, Jordan Reid of ESPN laid out each of the 262 picks slated to happen over the course of the draft’s three days. He selected a plethora of talented players for Baltimore, starting in the first round at pick No. 14, where he had them take edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II out of Florida State. Reid explained that his versatility as a pass rusher and a run defender would fit well on the Ravens’ defense.

“He is a ready-made run defender as well as a mature pass-rusher. Johnson is firm at the point of attack and has a determined mentality throughout games and a playing style that would fit well in Baltimore.”

At pick No. 45, Reid gave Baltimore cornerback depth in Tariq Woolen out of UTSA. He talked about how Woolen is as physically gifted of a cornerback as many have seen.

“The 6-foot-4 Woolen is one of the most physically gifted corners we’ve seen in the past decade. In need of depth on the perimeter, the Ravens could take a liking to him as a developmental player behind Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Iman Marshall.”

In the third round, Reid first took offensive tackle Rasheed Walker out of Penn State at pick No. 76 for Baltimore, discussing how he could be a nice developmental piece.

“After signing Morgan Moses, the Ravens still need developmental depth. Walker makes sense, as he has spurts of positive play, but his technique leaves him still far away from being ready to step in and play meaningful snap”

At pick No. 100, Reid has former Florida star defensive lineman Zach Carter being added to the Ravens, who he crowns a great run defender with starter potential if he can improve his pass rushing skills.

“A stout and consistent player at the point of attack, Carter is a 3-4 base end who is ready to play early as a run defender. If he becomes a more consistent pass-rusher, he could be a starter. He fits well in the Ravens’ odd defensive front.”

On Day 3 for Baltimore, in the fourth round Reid picks Cincinnati inside linebacker Darrian Beavers at No. 110, edge rusher Jesse Luketa out of Penn State at No. 119, wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. from Notre Dame at No. 128, edge rusher Sam Williams from USC at No. 139 and inside linebacker Damone Clark out of LSU at No. 141. In the sixth round, Reid rounded out the Ravens’ draft with guard Leticus Smith out of Virginia Tech.

Reid picked a balanced group of talented playmakers for Baltimore headlined by Johnson and Woolen, both of which could immediately fill in and take on big roles at positions of need. The other players taken in the mid/late rounds solidify multiple other areas of need, which is key as the team looks to build up their roster.

7 edge rush prospects for Cowboys to consider through 2022 draft weekend

The Cowboys have a definite draft need on the edge, but what round will they scratch the itch? @TimLettiero provides a look at a list of prospects for each draft weekend day.

The Dallas Cowboys have employed some of the game’s best sack artists across their storied careers. Harvey Martin and Charles Haley are legendary staples of some of the greatest teams in franchise history. While it was a shock that DeMarcus Ware didn’t make the Hall of Fame this past February, his name will likely be called soon.

Young phenom Micah Parsons certainly helps this however his dynamic ability in multiple facets raises questions if he should be pigeon holed into one role. Dallas re-signed veteran DE DeMarcus Lawrence, who has consistently graded out as one of the game’s best edge rushers despite only two seasons of double-digit takedowns. There are question marks beyond those two, though, and as Parsons will primarily play off-ball linebacker, there’s a need to grab a young edge player in the draft later this month.

Dorance Armstrong is an intriguing re-sign, but his career high in sacks happened last season at five. Watching DE Randy Gregory walk out the door after a breakout year undoubtedly hurts.

Tarell Basham, Chauncey Golston and recently signed veteran DE Dante Fowler round out the current group and while it’s enough to go into a season with, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn loves to rotate players, so the more the merrier. Here are some names who would be good additions and potential long-term starters.

Chiefs 2022 7-round mock draft v2.0: Post-Tyreek Hill trade edition

Our @goldmctNFL reveals his 7-round 2022 mock draft 2.0 for the #Chiefs and the first since the Tyreek Hill trade:

There are less than 30 days to go until the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have loaded up on draft picks due to the Tyreek Hill trade, but they’ve also created an even greater need at the wide receiver position. This mock draft looks quite a bit different from our 1.0, not just because of the new draft picks, but also given our recent look at the 90-man offseason roster. There are plenty of needs to consider, both for the upcoming season, but also for the future in Kansas City.

In order to gauge player availability for the mock draft, I ran multiple simulations using the various mock draft machines to create a composite. If players weren’t available with regularity, they were eliminated from contention at a specific pick. Typically, I’d have 8-10 players on my big board to choose from at a given pick, though in Round 7 the pool is significantly larger.

Without further delay, here’s a look at our mock draft version 2.0:

Rams add pass-rush help in 3rd round of Draft Wire mock draft

The Rams need pass-rush help after losing Von Miller and they found some with Sam Williams in Draft Wire’s three-round mock.

The Los Angeles Rams get left out of most mock drafts this time of year, being without first- and second-round picks. But Luke Easterling of Draft Wire went three rounds deep and included compensatory picks in his latest projections, including the Rams’ selection at No. 104 overall.

At that spot, Easterling has the Rams adding some much-needed pass-rush help. He projects Ole Miss edge rusher Sam Williams to the Rams, which would be a solid pickup for Los Angeles.

Williams is 6-foot-4 and has 4.46 speed, testing extremely well at the NFL combine this year. He’s a much better pass rusher than he is a run defender, recording 12.5 sacks last season. In his three-year career, Williams had 32.5 tackles for a loss and 22.5 sacks, putting up big numbers with the Rebels.

Williams is a great fit in a 3-4 defense like the Rams’, showing good explosiveness off the edge and displaying the power to go up against stronger offensive tackles. If drafted by the Rams, there’s a chance he’d vault Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis at some point in his rookie year, and at worst, he’d be a rotational piece the way Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was in Los Angeles.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compares Williams to former Chargers Pro Bowler Shaun Phillips, who had 81.5 sacks in his career.

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Packers to host official pre-draft visit with Ole Miss edge rusher Sam Williams

The Packers will host Ole Miss edge rusher Sam Williams on an official pre-draft visit.

The Green Bay Packers will host an official pre-draft visit with Ole Miss edge rusher Sam Williams.

Williams told Tyler Komis of Inside the Rebels that he has visits lined up with the Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons and has already visited with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.

Teams are allowed 30 official pre-draft visits per year.

The Packers will use one on a highly athletic and productive edge rusher.

Over three seasons at Ole Miss, Williams produced 22.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 32.5 tackles for losses. He also intercepted a pass and returned a fumble for a touchdown. During his senior season in 2021, Williams created 12.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for losses, both good for the second-most in the SEC.

Williams spent two seasons at a junior college (Northeast Mississippi CC) before arriving at Ole Miss.

At 6-4 and 261 pounds, Williams ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, hit 33″ in the vertical and covered 123″ in the broad jump at the combine. He was clocked under 7.0 seconds in the three-cone drill at his pro day last week. He also improved his vertical to 36″ and put up 25 reps on the bench press.

Coming out of the combine, his Relative Athletic Score was 9.55 out of 10.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com sees Williams as a subpackage pass-rusher who could struggle against the run early in his pro career.

“He projects as a potentially dangerous sub-package rusher who will need to get stronger and more competitive against the run if he wants to be considered for early down snaps,” Zierlein wrote.

In Green Bay, Williams could develop behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith while playing snaps as a rotational rusher and learning how to refine the rest of his game.

The Packers will likely use one of their 11 draft picks on an edge rusher. The class is deep, the defense needs to replace Za’Darius Smith, and Brian Gutekunst never leaves the cupboard bare at a premium position like edge rusher.

Brennen Rupp’s breakdown of Williams as a prospect can be viewed here.

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In need of an edge, Cowboys may be interested in Ole Miss’ Sam Williams skill set

Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) takes a look at the talented edge rusher out of Ole Miss with a questionable past. Does he fit with the Cowboys?

The shocking news of Randy Gregory’s departure for Denver mean the Cowboys could go edge rusher in the 2022 NFL Draft. Gregory had his share of suspensions but they were due to marijuana and the NFL has relaxed their stance there. However, Dallas takes doesn’t shy away from prospects with blemishes. Last draft they took Micah Parsons ,who had accusations against him in the Penn State hazing ring, and Josh Ball, who had a dating violence charge and transferred schools because of it. The Dallas Cowboys are no stranger to taking chances on players with significant upside, who also has some off-field baggage. Will they take another?

Ole Miss edge rusher Sam Williams is widely regarded as a great talent, it’s more a matter of if his off-the-field is worth the risk. He was indefinitely suspended from the team in 2020 due to a sexual battery charge. All charges were cleared and he returned to the team that September. So if Williams begins to fall in the draft? Will the Cowboys, do as they have in the past and take a swing on another player with a high upside? Here’s a look at his skillset.

Ravens draft talent at multiple needs in 3-round 2022 mock draft by CBS Sports

The Ravens drafted multiple talented players at positions of need in a three-round 2022 mock draft by CBS Sports

The Baltimore Ravens have come out of the gate at full speed during 2021 free agency, signing multiple players that fill needs and can play at a high level. However, that’s not the only avenue that Baltimore has to finding talented players, as they also hold 10 draft picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

When putting together a three-round 2022 mock draft, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports had the Ravens taking talented players at positions of need with each of their four picks within the first two days. He starts off things for Baltimore by taking LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, who he says only falls to No. 14 due to not playing a lot of football over the past year.

“Stingley didn’t work out at the combine as he recovers from a foot injury, and he only played three games in ’21, but it’s hard to forget just how dominant he was in ’19 as a freshman, where he spent practices going up against Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall and Racey McMath. He’s a ball hawk, not to mention an asset in the return game, and he’ll only last this long because hasn’t played a lot of football in the last 12 months. He shouldn’t last this long, but if he does the Ravens won’t wait around.”

At pick No. 45, Wilson has the Ravens taking a developmental offensive tackle who has potential to start in a pinch in Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann. The Austrian’s story is a unique one, as he started off as a tight end but put on the necessary weight to become an offensive tackle, and a very good one at that.

In the third round, Wilson takes one offensive and one defensive player for Baltimore. At pick No. 76, he has the Ravens selecting balanced edge rusher Sam Williams out of Ole Miss, and with Baltimore’s final selection he takes versatile Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer.

As free agency continues, the Ravens’ needs will continue to shift around. Baltimore has shown a history of taking the best player available in certain circumstances, and with such a deep draft class they could employ that strategy once again.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 65 Sam Williams

Ole Miss OLB Sam Williams is up next in Unpacking Future Packers, a countdown previewing the 2022 NFL draft for Packers Wire.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

A team can never have enough pass rushers and the 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with talented edge rushers.

The upcoming draft will give the Green Bay Packers a golden opportunity to restock or reload at a premier position.

The Packers in all likelihood seen the last of Za’Darius Smith in Green and Gold. All signs point to the two sides splitting this offseason to free up cap space for the Packers.

Preston Smith is a potential cap causality, while Whitney Mercilus is a candidate to get re-signed.

Regardless of what happens with Preston Smith and Mercilus the Packers need to find Rashan Gary a long-term running mate.

A player that Brian Gutekunst could target late on day two or early on day three of the upcoming draft is Sam Williams. The Ole Miss edge rusher checks in at No. 66 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

Williams is a JUCO transfer from Northeast Mississippi, where he won Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, after recording 75 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks.

Williams enjoyed success during his first season at Ole Miss in 2019, recording 9.5 tackles for loss six sacks, and one interception. In 2020, the former four-star recruit recorded eight tackles for loss and four sacks.

This past season Williams recorded 57 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks. He finished second in the SEC in sacks behind Alabama’s Will Anderson.

“Sam Williams has incredible explosiveness that stems from his fluid hips and strong hand usage,” Devin Jackson, a contributor for Blue Chip Scout said. “His quick upfield first step allows him to get hip to hip with tackles and uses a variety of moves to win in pass-rush situations. Although he’s known for his pass rush prowess and playing with power, he makes impact plays in both the running and passing games.”

Williams gets off the ball quickly with an explosive first step and is able to hit top speed instantly, showing great burst to get to the quarterback. With his speed he’s able to beat offensive tackles to the corner.

He’s a bendy edge rusher that does a great job of converting speed to power. The JUCO transfer has a ton of upper-body strength and can overpower offensive tackles with his bullrush.

“It starts with his first step explosiveness and playing with power in his lower half that allows him to convert speed to power,” Jackson said. “He can win using his quickness and also uses swim moves and cross chops, showcasing a mixed bag among his toolbox.

His natural speed forces tackles to overset and therefore he can use inside pass rush moves to win at the point of attack and get in the backfield. His pass-rush plan is predicated on his power.”

The Ole Miss edge rusher has a motor that’s always running and he does a good job of chasing down plays from the backside against the run. He has a high football IQ and does a great job of sniffing out screens.

There are some concerns if Williams will be able to play on early downs. He can be overwhelmed at the point of attack against the run and can be driven backwards.

“Williams is just as impactful in the run game as he is in pass-rush situations,” Jackson said. “That speed and playing with a level pad level, Williams can win on slants and shedding blocks from tight ends in one on one situations. While there’s some work that needs to be done as a natural stack and shedder, along with maintaining gap responsibility, Williams chases down plays from anywhere on the field and makes tremendous plays utilizing his explosiveness in the backfield.”

An off-the-field incident is a big reason why Williams isn’t higher on this list. In 2020, Williams was arrested for sexual battery. The chargers were dropped, but that incident may keep him off Green Bay’s board.

Fit with the Packers

With his explosiveness, Williams could carve out a role during his rookie season as a designated pass-rusher. A team can never have enough talented edge rushers capable of disrupting the pocket and Williams has a knack for getting after the quarterback.

“Williams projects as a versatile 3-4 outside backer who has upside to drop in short zones and be an early-down game wrecker as a pass rusher,” Jackson said. “He emerged on the scene as one of the premier pass rushers in the SEC. Although he has some red flags off-field (felony sexual battery charge in 2020) his play on the field projects as a player who can be an immediate contributor. He has the potential to be a seven-to-eight sack-a-year type of player.”

If the Packers bring back Preston Smith or Mercilus, they may not take an edge rusher in the first round.

If that’s the case Williams is a player that Gutekunst could target late on day two or early on day three.

Williams has all the tools in the shed to be a disruptive designated pass rusher as a rookie and could develop into a star down the road, much like Rashan Gary.

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Browns mock draft watch: Pro Football Network mocks full seven rounds

Browns mock draft watch: Pro Football Network mocks full seven rounds broken down by our @joshkeatley16 #Browns

Well this weekend was not ideal as the Cincinnati Bengals took the Kansas City Chiefs to bed and are now heading to the Super Bowl. Obviously the AFC North is getting better and Joe Burrow and the Bengals are going to be hard to beat, but the Cleveland Browns will have an opportunity to improve with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft and a front office ready to make this team better.

The lovely people at Pro Football Network have been gracious enough to publish a seven round mock draft and I wanted to breakdown who they selected and who I thought maybe a better option.

Meet Sam Williams, Mississippi’s dynamic pass rusher

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Ole Miss edge defender prospect Sam Williams

Some of the biggest stars in the NFL have come from the junior college ranks, and every year, prospects with unique journeys to the pro level make a big splash on Saturdays.

Ole Miss pass rusher Sam Williams has the skill set to add his name to that list this season.

A fast-improving edge defender prospect, Williams recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about making the transition to the SEC from the JUCO ranks, why LSU had the worst offensive line, and what fans can expect from him this season.

JM: You came to Ole Miss prior to last season by way of JUCO. Guys who hit the D-I ranks from JUCO often face a steep transition. If that happened for you behind the scenes, it didn’t seem that way on the field. How did you acclimate so quickly?

SW: I really leaned on the system and the support around me. We have an excellent offensive line, that I had a chance to practice against every day. They prepared me for in-game action. I was prepared for anything and anybody. It wasn’t that hard, to be honest with you. I just made sure that I was playing hard out there.

JM: This is a big year for you, it’s your senior season. There’s going to be some expectations for you now. What are you doing to make sure that you meet those expectations?

SW: I’m trying to outwork anybody and everybody. I’m putting in extra work on the field. I’m spending more time in the weight room. I’m doing extra everything (laughs). I’m studying more film than ever before. I’m trying to be the ultimate student of the game.

(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

JM: You get to work with coach D.J. Durkin this year. He’s coached for teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Michigan and Florida, just to name a few. He’s worked with some talented players. What are you hoping to learn from him?

SW: I feel like I can learn a lot from him. I’m willing to learn. This has always been my plan. This is like my fourth year playing football. I’m still new to the game. I’m always open to new ideas and techniques. I want to play in new schemes. I’m ready to play ball and follow his leadership.

JM: How can this Ole Miss defense be better in 2020 than it was in 2019?

SW: I feel like it’s going to be better because of the leadership that we have in our locker room. We have some great seniors. We have a big and talented senior class this year. Every senior here has a big role to play on the field this season. I believe in our leadership. That’s why the defense is going to be a lot better this season. Every single senior here is going to put their best foot forward. Effort isn’t going to be a problem. We want to ensure that this defense will be better.

JM: I don’t know how many times you’ve met coach Lane Kiffin in person yet, but expectations are obviously high for him. What’s your initial impression of Coach Kiffin?

SW: I’ve actually spoken with Coach Kiffin plenty of times already. He’s a very laid-back guy. He’s a cool person. He doesn’t play around, though (laughs). He saw us taking it easy this one time and he really laid into us. We had to start the drill over from the beginning. He didn’t let us off the hook. That’s what we need though. He doesn’t say much, but when he talks, you listen. He doesn’t waste his words. He means what he says and he stands behind it. That’s exactly what this program needed.

Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

JM: You recorded six sacks last season. What can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal?

SW: It’s still raw. I’m very open to new ideas and techniques. I’m working closely with the coaching staff. I want to be coached. We’ve been hopping on Zoom calls and FaceTime. They’re making me look up YouTube videos. I’m looking at different techniques that I can work on. I have the power, strength and speed. Now it’s about putting it all together. I have to get my hands better. I’m looking at a new video every day, videos that can help me improve my hand usage.

JM: What do you consider your go-to move at this point, and what moves are you trying to develop?

SW: My go-to move is definitely speed-to-power. I’m so fast that I’m often able to run right past the offensive tackle. If they open up to where I can’t go past them, I can use a power move to knock him off his pass set. I’ve been trying to develop something where I can grab onto their elbows and pull myself through them. There’s a lot that goes into it. I’ve been working on that move. It’s going to make my game 10x better because nobody is going to expect that from me. They only expect a swim move, speed-to-power, you know, the basic moves. I’m going to surprise everybody with some new moves this season.

JM: Who do you think were some of the best offensive linemen you went up against last season?

SW: No. 74 on Alabama [Jedrick Wills] was a good one. He just got drafted. I felt like he was the best one. I’ll tell you what though, LSU had the worst offensive line.

JM: LSU had the worst offensive line?

SW: Yeah, LSU had the worst offensive line. That’s how I feel. They were big, but they couldn’t move at all. Joe Burrow did his thing, don’t get me wrong. He had to get the ball out quickly. He didn’t have any other choice. If I had maybe 0.5 more seconds, I would have left that game with four or five sacks. They’re not that good, but they got the ball out quickly because we didn’t do a very good job of covering their receivers.

Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

JM: If you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one teammate with you, who would it be and why?

SW: I would bring [quarterback] John Rhys Plumlee with me. I know for a fact that he would give me everything he has. He’s not afraid to stand up and talk to the team. He’s not a big talker though. He rather lead by example. He’s going to show you. He won’t talk about it before he does it. He’s a young leader. Not only is he verbal, but he’s both physical and visual as well. He doesn’t have to say too much to be a leader.

JM: How would you describe the atmosphere at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on game-day?

SW: Man, it’s crazy. Coming from JUCO to this, it’s amazing. I remember my first game against Memphis. I ran out of that tunnel, looked around the stadium and just said, “Wow.” It’s crazy. It makes your heart pump faster. It gives you a rush of adrenaline. It’s a wonderful feeling. I love it.

JM: I know we have a whole season in front of us, but how big would it be for you to receive a Senior Bowl invite at the conclusion of this season?

SW: That would be great. With me coming from the background that I come from, to this very day I still can’t believe that I’m in the position that I’m in. This is me? I’m here right now? I have to pinch myself sometimes. Getting a chance to play in the Senior Bowl would be a fantastic opportunity. That would be a big honor.

JM: What can Ole Miss fans expect from Sam Williams this season?

SW: I’m gonna give it my all to be the best. I don’t wanna sound arrogant but I’m working to be the best so I expect to be the best. I’m gonna line up and beat whoever’s in front of me. That’s just the way it is.

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