2017 NFL Mock Draft: Wild Card Edition
By Tyler Brooke
Tim Williams
EDGE, Alabama
Steve Smith announcing his retirement puts some extra emphasis on the Baltimore Ravens to find another wide receiver in the NFL draft. However, edge rusher is also a pretty big need for this team. Despite having a promising defensive unit, the Ravens still ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks this year.
Alabama’s Tim Williams is one of the best players available with this pick, and he would be a more than welcome addition to Baltimore’s defense. Heading into the College Football Playoff, Williams was a force to be reckoned with, racking up 15.5 tackles for loss that included 8.5 sacks.
Williams is still developing as an all-around outside linebacker, but the Alabama prospect is already a dominant pass rusher. At 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, Williams does a great job of staying low and exploding out of his stance to bend the edge and get to the quarterback.
While he might not be an every-down linebacker as a rookie, Williams could come in and immediately be someone who could rush the passer on obvious passing downs, which is something that the Ravens would love to have at their disposal. As he continues to develop, Williams could become a key piece to a Ravens defense that keeps adding young talent.