Overview
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 289 pounds
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.83 seconds
Vertical jump: 30.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 4 inches
Quinnen Williams 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Even though the Alabama Crimson Tide didn’t win the National Championship, 2018 was a fantastic year for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. He was on a few draft radars, but nobody expected his 2018 season to be as dominant as it was. Playing in all 15 games, Williams finished his breakout year with 71 total tackles, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, and eight sacks. Williams constantly destroyed offensive lines and became a dangerous force in the running and the passing game.
Williams initially joined the Crimson Tide back in the 2016 season. However, the defensive tackle took a redshirt freshman year and didn’t see the field at all. Earning regular playing time in 2017, Williams recorded 20 tackles and two sacks in nine games played. Overall, Williams put together some decent tape but didn’t look like the dominant force he became in 2018.
Williams entered the college scene as a four-star recruit out of Wenonah High School. Interestingly enough, Williams initially committed to play football with the Auburn Tigers. However, a last-second change of heart led Williams to the Alabama Crimson Tide for the entirety of his collegiate tenure.
Strengths
- Dominant defender against both the run and the pass;
- Fantastic motor – never gives up on a play;
- Elite hand work makes him a great interior pass rusher;
- Capable of regularly beating double teams on the inside;
- High-level athleticism allows him to move around the defensive line;
- Fantastic quickness and ability to beat his man off the line;
- Incredible reflexes and football intelligence.
Weaknesses
- Only one year of top-level production;
- Weakest when playing nose tackle;
- Minimal experience is a slight concern;
- Played alongside Raekwon Davis, which may have led to some inflated numbers;
- Good but not great film during the 2017 season.
NFL Comparison: Fletcher Cox, Geno Atkins
Teams With Need at Position: New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals
Projection: Top 10 pick
Bottom Line
Coming up with five weaknesses for Quinnen Williams wasn’t easy. Williams did just about everything asked of him in 2018, and then some. There’s no doubt that Williams is one of the top-five players in the NFL Draft, but he might slip to the top-10 if a few teams reach for a quarterback.
Williams should make an immediate impact for whichever team ends up drafting him. A stalwart against both the run and the pass, Williams can make an instant impact as a three-down player. If everything breaks right, Williams has the ceiling to be a perennial All-Pro in the NFL. He won’t be as good as Aaron Donald (nobody is), but Williams has a chance to be in that next tier below.
One-year wonders often carry more risk than the average draft selection, but this shouldn’t be the case with Williams. His tape was simply too good to be a one-year fluke. Look for Williams to get off the board early and immediately contribute to his NFL home.
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