Raequan Williams Overview
Position: Interior Defensive Line
Height: 6’-3”
Weight: 344 pounds
School: Michigan
NFL Combine Performance Data
40 Yard Dash: 5.04 (unofficial)
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 25.5”
Broad Jump: 101.0”
3 Cone Drill: 7.72 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.78 seconds
Raequan Williams 2020 NFL Draft Profile
After spending the entirety of his collegiate career at Michigan State, defensive lineman Raequan Williams is looking to bring his game to the professional level in the 2020 NFL Draft. The 6’-4”, 308-pound interior lineman is coming off arguably the best season of his career. Appearing in 604 snaps, Williams ended his season with 20 run stops, seven sacks, five quarterback hits, and 22 hurries.
Williams initially entered the collegiate ranks as a four-star recruit. An Illinois native, Williams eventually chose Michigan State despite heavy pursuit from Iowa. After redshirting in 2015 and spending most of 2016 on the bench, Williams finally earned a starting job in 2017. Playing in 548 snaps, the defensive lineman recorded 11 run stops, three sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 16 hurries. He was even better the following season, recording 19 stops, two sacks, six hits, and 15 hurries.
Strengths
- Positional versatility to play all along the defensive line;
- Holds his own in one-on-one matchups in the trenches;
- Advanced knowledge of hand usage to keep offensive linemen from engaging;
- 49th percentile arm length among defensive linemen;
- Clearly added some tools to his pass-rusher repertoire in 2019.
Weaknesses
- Below-average athlete across the board;
- Underwhelming bend – rather rigid as a rusher;
- Struggles to consistently hold his ground against double teams;
- Doesn’t project as a pass rusher at the next level;
- Plays a little high and can sacrifice leverage;
- Slow reaction time off the snap.
NFL Comparison: Kyle Love
Teams With Need at Position: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins
Projection: 7th Round/Priority UDFA
Bottom Line on Raequan Williams
Raequan Williams could have been a solid football player in a different era of football. The defensive lineman is probably at his best in a run-stuffing 3-4 defense, but that role doesn’t exist in today’s pass-happy NFL. Williams has the ability to line up all along the defensive line, but it’s hard to imagine him playing any singular position at an NFL level. He’s not very athletic, and studies show that athleticism matters when evaluating defensive linemen.
Players can get by without elite athleticism at defensive line, but they need to be nearly perfect at everything else. Right now, Raequan Williams doesn’t fit that description. While he possesses great hand work, he doesn’t have that much bend on his rushes and plays a little too high. Additionally, he’s slow off the snap and doesn’t have the strength to consistently hold up to double teams. Williams added some pass-rushing moves in 2019, but he’s never going to be a consistent threat as a pass rusher. Chances are, Williams will earn the right to compete for a roster spot, but he’ll probably start his career on a practice squad.
Main photo:
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