2015 Atlanta Falcons Potential Draft Pick Profile: TE Maxx Williams

In order for the new offense that the Atlanta Falcons are running in 2015 to work, they need a great all-around tight end like what Maxx Williams has the potential to be. He's a Jason Witten clone who can give Atlanta its most well-rounded tight end since Alge Crumpler.

Williams is a redshirt sophomore out of the University of Minnesota and has been one of its best pass-catchers during his short career. However, his true strength comes from his blocking. If the Falcons truly want to be balanced, considering Williams early should definitely happen.

Maxx Williams

Tight End

University of Minnesota

Combine/Pro-Day Measurements

Height: 6'3 ⅞" Weight: 249 pounds

Arm Length: 33 ½" Hand Measurement: 10 ⅜"

40-yard Dash: 4.78 sec. 10-yard Split: 1.63 sec.

20-yard Shuttle: 4.37 sec. Three-cone Drill: 7.30 sec. Bench Reps: 17 reps

Vertical Jump: 34.5" Broad Jump: 9'9"

Stats

2014: 12 Games Played, 36 Catches, 569 Yards, 8 Touchdowns, 1 Tackle

2013: 13 Games Played, 25 Catches, 417 Yards, 5 Touchdowns, 1 Carry, 7 Yards, 2 Kick Returns, 29 Yards, 2 Tackles

2012: Redshirted

Scouting Report

Strengths

Williams might be the best blocking tight end in the entire draft. He still has refinement to do with his technique, but he's already understanding of leverage, strength and pad levels needed to create holes for his running backs within the offense that Minnesota ran.

He's also a very competent receiver despite playing in a run-first, run-second, run-third kind of offense. He was able to create separation easily against Big Ten competition quite often and rarely dropped balls thrown his way. It's almost a shame that Minnesota's quarterback played so poorly.

Weaknesses

Williams is extremely inexperienced in the passing game because of Jerry Kill's emphasis on the running game and the lack of talent his quarterbacks have had. He's going to have to adjust more than most tight ends would have to because of the offensive restrictions.

He's also not an exceptional athlete and compares to Witten in that case. His understanding of route concepts and finding soft spots against zone coverages needs to be worked on and so do his hands when it comes to pass catching. He just needs to really take the next step when he makes it to the pros.

How Does He Fit the Comrade Filter?

Williams wasn't arrested or suspended, but he also wasn't a captain for the Golden Gophers. He's one of those guys on every team who comes in, goes to work and goes home every day. A contributor like that is very common around the NFL and is always good to have in the locker room.

One thing that makes Williams different from any other player Thomas Dimitroff has had a chance to draft is that Williams is a redshirt sophomore. The Falcons rarely take underclassmen, so to look at a sophomore would be something surprising for their tendencies.

Overview

Any team would be lucky to wind up with Williams. He's just scratching the surface of his pass-catching potential and could be one of the best tight ends in the game. Early on in his career, he'll have to hope that he gets a good quarterback who will feed him the ball early and often.

He'll also have to show that he's the best blocker on the team to have a shot at earning the starting job regardless of which team he winds up on. Atlanta could have the best all-around tight end it has had since Alge Crumpler terrorized opposing defensive backfields as a receiver and blocker alike.

How He Would Fit into the Falcons' Plans 

Williams will likely go in the early part of the second round, so the Falcons would have to pick him up then. He'd be an ideal fit for Shanahan's offense as the primary in-line tight end and could allow Levine Toilolo to play more of a big slot receiver and H-back role.

The Falcons would ideally use Williams as their top tight end throughout his rookie season and would eventually turn up his responsibilities in the passing offense until he was the second-best receiving option in the offense to Julio Jones the same way Witten is that to Dez Bryant.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro-day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also a Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.

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