Dorian Williams NFL Draft Overview
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6′-1″
Weight: 228 pounds
School: Tulane
2023 NFL Draft: Dorian Williams Scouting Report
After spending the past four seasons at Tulane, Dorian Williams has officially declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. The linebacker heads to the professional level on the heels of the best season of his career and a much-needed bounce-back campaign. Appearing in 14 games, Williams ended the year with 132 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, and two interceptions.
Dorian Williams originally joined the college football world in 2019. Seeing the field as a true freshman, the linebacker finished his first season with 14 tackles in five games. He first started to make a name for himself in 2020 when he recorded 97 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss, and 3.5 sacks in 12 games. Unfortunately, he took a step back in 202, recording just 73 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and one sack in 12 contests.
Strengths
- Rangy athlete that should be a natural fit in zone coverages;
- 89th-percentile or better in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, and arm length;
- Has a good sense of where the ball is going to go;
- Fearless to charge into the box and try and deliver a hit;
- Never out of the play – has the speed to chase down ball carriers and the motor to never stop until the whistle blows.
Weaknesses
- Relative lack of size shows up when engaged by blockers;
- Poor tackling fundamentals could be a problem at the next level;
- Too cautious reading run blocks – at his size, he needs to attack earlier;
- Needs to learn how to disengage blockers;
- Run defense instincts need to improve.
NFL Comparison: Jonathan Casillas
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots
Projection: Rounds 3-4
Bottom Line on Dorian Williams
Dorian Williams is a better against the pass than the run, and in today’s NFL, that’s a good thing. The Tulane product has the range to go sideline to sideline and possesses the speed, quick acceleration, and arm length required to be an ideal zone defender. When dropped back in coverage, he can read the quarterback’s eyes and make breaks on the ball, limiting potential big gains and breaking up tight passes. Additionally, while he is on the smaller side, he should still be able to hold his own in man defense.
Teams are throwing the ball more than ever, and Williams can stay on the field on passing plays. However, he needs some work against the run. While he is certainly a willing run defender, he’s not a very good one. Williams is notably undersized for the position, which isn’t a kiss of death in of itself. Smaller players find ways to hold up against the run all the time, but they need to compensate for their build with elite instincts or perfect fundamentals. Dorian Williams doesn’t have either one of those things, as he’s a little slow to dissect run plays and he leaves his feet way too often when tackling. Perhaps these issues are fixable at the next level, but it will take time. In the short-term, Williams is a player that should see the field in passing situations and won’t be a liability out wide, but he isn’t the type of guy you want on the field in goal-line and short-yardage situations.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
