Regardless of his position, Alabama tackle Jonah Williams will be a high impact player out of the NFL draft, capable of becoming an All-Pro lineman.
Once viewed as one of the 2019 NFL Draft’s safest options, former Alabama tackle Jonah Williams has been one of the most scrutinized prospects in the pre-draft process.
Williams was a three-year starter for Alabama, manning the right tackle spot as a true freshman and then shifting over to left tackle for his final two years in Tuscaloosa. He made an immediate impact, something he is likely to do as a rookie in the NFL.
He was a two-time All-SEC player and a unanimous All-American in 2018. He has long been viewed as the top offensive lineman in the 2019 draft, but concerns over his lack of ideal length and potential position change have dropped him a bit down draft boards.
While he’s still a no-doubt first round pick, Williams isn’t likely to garner consideration for the Top-10. He’s probably fallen below Florida’s Jawaan Taylor, and will be competing with several others to try and be the second lineman off the board at the end of the month.
The concerns over Williams are foolish; turn on the tape and throw away the tape measure, and you’ll see why he has long been one of the most coveted prospects in college football. Other teams’ concern will likely be someone’s gain, as his slip down the draft board will make someone incredibly happy.
Strengths
Perhaps Williams’ best asset is his football I.Q. and impeccable technique. His technical refinement is of an NFL veteran, and will serve him well as he looks to carve out a starting role as a rookie.
Williams is powerful, utilizing a stout anchor and strong hands to move defensive linemen around. He’s imposing as a run blocker, moving the opposition off of their spots to open up holes for the runners. His ability to dominate in the running game, using his athleticism to pull off of his spot and get to the second level, is a major reason why people think his best position in the pros might be on the interior of the line instead.
While he’s certainly capable of playing guard, he’s also got the potential to be a high-end tackle at the next level. Williams is light on his feet, and quickly stymies edge rushers looking to get through to sack his quarterback.
Williams is a finisher, consistently driving his feet and pushing back blockers until he hears the whistle. He relishes contact and routinely pancakes defenders into the dirt. He gets into his sets quickly, and is excellent working into the second level to find additional carnage.
Weaknesses
The main issue with Williams is a lack of length. His 33 5/8 inch long arms are smaller than prototypical for an NFL tackle, and that could conceivably cause him issues against bigger edge rushers. He could have issues getting his hands on some of them right out of the gate, which could cause him to give up a good bit of sacks.
He also at times struggled with counter moves back to the inside from edge rusher after potentially over-committing to the outside to combat the speed rush. Defending counters properly comes with experience, and that’s not something that should be too overly concerning.
A good NFL comp for Jonah Williams also happens to be one of his most ardent defenders: 49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley. The six-time Pro Bowler, and three-time second team All-Pro selection, was widely criticized for his arm length, which actually were measured shorter than Williams coming out of college.
Staley carved out a spot as a starting NFL tackle, and it’s naive to think that Williams couldn’t do the same. He could be a Pro Bowl and All-Pro player at either tackle or guard.
Draft Expectations
Regardless of whether Williams plays guard or tackle, he should be seen as an anchor of an NFL offensive line for years to come. Even if he’s forced to slide inside to guard, he’s more than capable of making a dominant impact. Think the Colts regret taking Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson so highly?
Williams is likely to be the second offensive lineman off the board. That means he’ll likely be picked somewhere between No. 9 and No. 19. There’s too many offensive line-needy teams to expect him to fall any further than that.
His ceiling is probably Buffalo at No. 9, and barring something unexpected, it would be tough to see him fall past the Titans at No. 19.
Projection: Top 20