One of the best surprises to come from the 2019 season was the emergence of undrafted free agent Preston Williams. A Colorado State product, the wide receiver not only made the roster but quickly earned a starting job and emerged as one of the most reliable options in Miami’s passing attack. While an ACL injury prematurely ended his season, he should be back to complete health by the start of 2020. Can he take the next step in his development, or will he plateau on his journey back from injury?
Can Preston Williams Take A Year 2 Leap?
How Good Was 2019?
Preston Williams deserves all the credit in the world for quickly earning a starting job in Miami, but it’s worth noting that he didn’t overcome great competition to earn playing time. After the team traded away Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson suffered an injury, Williams essentially found the field by default. Williams ended his first season with 32 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns, but volume stats might not be the best way to evaluate the former undrafted free agent.
From an efficiency standpoint, Williams actually performed surprisingly well. His 1.87 yards-per-route ranked 54th in the NFL, which is a respectable finish for a rookie receiver. It’s also worth noting that he spent part of the season catching passes from Josh Rosen, one of the most inaccurate passers in the league. Williams’ excelled down the field, as evidenced by his 14.9 average target distance and his 47.6% contested catch rate.
Ultimately, Preston Williams finished the season as PFF’s 66th-best receiver, one spot behind fellow rookie Diontae Johnson. Williams also improved as the season progressed and was arguably the top receiver on the team at time of injury. All of this is to say that his success was not just a product of a poor depth chart, and he has the skills and on-field ability to be a legitimate starter for years to come.
Will Preston Williams Be Healthy in 2020?
Of course, Preston Williams needs to stay healthy if his breakout season is ever to come to fruition. ACL injuries are no joke, but they aren’t the career-threatening setbacks that they were in years past. Thanks to several key medical breakthroughs, the average ACL recovery timeline is roughly nine months to a year. Williams tore his ACL in early November, which gives him approximately 10 months to get ready for Week 1. For what it’s worth, the receiver already said he plans on being ready for the start of the season.
Players tend to be optimistic about their recovery timelines, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll be at full strength even if he is on the field. However, a look at Miami’s offseason moves implies that the team believes Williams will be ready to go for Week 1.
The Dolphins entered the offseason with a seemingly endless supply of cap space and draft picks. If they wanted to, they easily could have added a big-name pass-catcher or two. However, the fact that they completely ignored the position suggests they’re comfortable with the current players at the position.
Preston Williams probably won’t ever develop into a superstar, but he has the talent to be a solid starter in this league for a long time. Both player and team believe he’ll be a full go for the start of the season, and pairing him with DeVante Parker should give the Dolphins and rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a reliable pair of receivers.
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