Sam Williams 2022 NFL Draft Profile

Sam Williams goes into the 2022 NFL Draft as an extremely volatile player. Williams played three seasons at Ole Miss, appearing in 35 games. For his career, Williams recorded 22.5 sacks, 134 tackles, and one interception. Williams’ productivity went down from his junior to his first senior year, but he used pandemic rules to show his potential. After the rules allowed him to play a second senior year, Williams showed his incredible potential. He put up 15 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks on the season. This explosion in his final year will intrigue teams on the second or third day of the NFL draft.

For his efforts, Sam Williams was highly decorated after his final collegiate year. Walter Camp and the Associated Press named Williams to their second and third All-American teams, respectively. The SEC coaches awarded Williams to the All-SEC first team. The Butkus Award, given to the best linebackers in college football, also had Williams on their watch list for the 2021 season. Williams also exploded at the NFL combine, posting a 4.46 40-yard dash time.

Strengths:

Quickness off edge

Flexibility

Hand fighting

Weaknesses:

Rush tackling

Lateral Movement

Shedding the first block

NFL Comparison: Arden Key

Projection: Third Round

Bottom Line on Sam Williams

Sam Williams could end up going as high as the second round in this year’s upcoming draft. Edge rushers are highly valued in the NFL, which usually leads to over-drafting. Williams has had issues off the field but they were resolved before his 2020 collegiate season. This is still likely to cause some teams to be out on the player. That could be a mistake, as Williams took a giant leap forward in his 2021 season. Teams could also dismiss Williams’ senior year as a fluke. Questions abound for this talented and large athlete.

Due to pandemic rules, Sam Williams was able to play an extra year for Ole Miss. He used this extra year to tally a career-high 12.5 sacks and 57 tackles on the year. The accolades followed these career highs, as he was named on several Team awards. NFL teams will see the immense potential for Williams. Williams is a new-school type linebacker or edge rusher that teams often value. He could likely be part of a pass-rush rotation immediately but will need to improve on play recognition to become a three-down player.