Account
Report: Jameson Williams Seen as 'Franchise Cornerstone' by Some Teams Ahead of Draft
April 23, 2022
A few NFL teams think very highly of Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, to the point that they believe he's a franchise cornerstone.
Sports reporter Jordan Schultz provided the scoop.
Jordan Schultz @Schultz_ReportMultiple NFL teams I’ve spoken with view Alabama WR Jameson Williams as a bona fide star, perennial Pro Bowler and franchise cornerstone. The ACL is immaterial: He’s a good 13 weeks out of surgery and ahead of schedule with his rehab. Jamo will be a huge factor as a rookie. 🐘
Williams caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns for Alabama last season. He suffered a torn ACL during the national championship game against Georgia, but it appears he's ahead of schedule in his recovery.
In late March, Williams spoke with NFL Network's James Palmer (h/t Nick Shook of NFL.com) about where he was:
"Right now, I'm about 10 weeks out of surgery. The timescale I was getting was about five to seven months, and I'm ahead of schedule, so with me being 10 weeks, we're just getting a lot of movement, a lot of good workouts in.
"I'm in the pool and everything, a slight jog, really getting to do high-knees, butt kicks and things like that, just getting back in the motions. Everything is going good so far, with me being this far out and this far down the process. And it's not that far, it's just the beginning, so I think I would say everything's going good so far."
The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked Williams 16th in this year's draft class and fourth among wide receivers.
Despite the torn ACL, Williams shouldn't wait too long to hear his name called Thursday in the first round of the NFL draft.
Plenty of wideout-needy teams sit in the Nos. 10-20 range, including the New York Jets, Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles (two picks) and New Orleans Saints (two picks).
Even the Los Angeles Chargers, who have Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, could go for the Alabama star to bolster an offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert. They are scheduled to pick at No. 17.
The wide receiver class is deep, so it's possible a few players (e.g., USC's Drake London, Ohio State's Garrett Wilson) will be selected before Williams. However, the 21-year-old is an explosive deep threat and game-changer and should make an early impact once he's cleared to step on the field.