Commanders should take notice of pre-draft praise for Jameson Williams

The NFL Draft is just three days away and reports indicate it’s going to be as unpredictable of a showcase in recent memory. With no surefire lock to be taken first overall and the first round likely to produce ample surprises, it has the makings to be an incredibly memorable (and stress-inducing) event.

That stress part is where the Washington Commanders come in.

With an inconsistent hit rate on their first- and second-round picks over the last decade, Washington needs to strike gold this year.

The Carson Wentz trade cratered the team’s cap situation, thereby putting a greater pressure on the front office to nail this draft. If you can only sign and re-sign so many players, you have to ensure your picks produce as rookies.

In regard to the No. 11 pick, at least a handful of prospects could be in play for Washington. At this juncture, we’re all familiar with the names: Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Drake London, Kyle Hamilton, Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley.

But what about Jameson Williams? Despite recovering from a torn ACL, the Alabama receiver has a ton of respect around the league and multiple teams view him as a “franchise cornerstone,” according to insider Jordan Schultz.

Could the Commanders draft Jameson Williams at No. 11 overall?

This report could certainly shake up the draft board. Does it mean Williams falls to Washington at No. 11 overall? Nobody knows. Given the sheer unpredictability of the first 10 picks, Williams could go as high as fourth to the Jets.

At the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s an early run on defensive and offensive lineman and he slips outside the top 10.

But that’s not the point. The Commanders have tended to zig when everyone else is zagging and it might be time to break that trend. It’s an offense-driven league and the club has drafted defensive players in the first round in each of the last five years: Jamin Davis, Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen.

Williams would be the ideal pick to nip that streak in the bud. The Alabama star isn’t the X receiver prototype Wentz has enjoyed throwing to in his career, but he’d command multiple defenders on every snap and help stretch the field for Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel to feast in the first and second levels of the defense.

As for that ACL rehab, Williams seems to be ahead of schedule.

In 2021, Williams caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns playing in the undisputed best conference in the country. In other words, he terrorized future NFL cornerbacks and did so by averaging 19.9 yards per reception.

That didn’t happen by accident. Williams has a rare blend of speed, route-running and ball-tracking ability to become an immediate star in the league.

The only reason we were (initially) out on Washington taking Williams was the ACL injury. With Carson Wentz essentially entering another prove-it year, we didn’t want the team to draft a receiver that would only play half the schedule.

Well, Schultz saying Williams will be a “huge factor” as a rookie indicates Williams’ ambition of being cleared for training camp is realistic. As long as the Commanders are encouraged by his medicals, he’d be a fantastic pick in Round 1.