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NFL Draft 2019: Top 32 prospects – Post-Senior Bowl edition

By Conor Dorney

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 17: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on while playing the Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 31-20. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 17: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on while playing the Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 31-20. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 23: Jonah Williams #73 of the Alabama Crimson Tide plays against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 23: Jonah Williams #73 of the Alabama Crimson Tide plays against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

It’s not truly a top-five draft prospect rankings list without at least a couple of Alabama players, is it? This time, we head over to the offensive side of the ball and offensive tackle Jonah Williams.

Williams is another player who came to campus as a five-star recruit and has done nothing but backs up his ranking during his collegiate career. Having paved the way for a plethora of talented Alabama running backs over the past three seasons, Williams figures to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board from this class.

One of the biggest reasons for the success of Alabama’s offense, particularly this season, was the stability that Williams provided at left tackle. There’s no shortage of talented defensive linemen and edge players in the SEC (we’ll cover several on this list alone), and Williams more than held his own.

Williams is perhaps the most technically sound players at any position in this draft class. He’s calm, cool and collected. Able to handle power rushes with his excellent anchor, speed around the edge with his great footwork, and just about any stunts an opposing defensive coordinator throws at him with his outstanding awareness. He is also exceptional in the running game and in zone running schemes, displaying an innate ability to locate and seal off defenders at the second level.

There’s going to be a whole lot of chatter about Williams’ lack of elite length and for not being the mean streak of some of his classmates. But, if you ask me, what Williams can do for you at this stage of his development leaves me feeling pretty secure for his future in the NFL. He doesn’t have the ceiling of a Quenton Nelson, but even a move to right tackle or guard leaves Williams with a higher floor than just about anybody.

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