Round 1, Pick 26 - Arizona Cardinals - Dan Williams

Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

Ht: 6’ 2” Wt: 327

EMQB’s analysis on the pick:  Williams is a scheme diverse defensive tackle and fits Arizona's defense perfectly.  The Cardinals have to be thrilled with the fact that Williams was still available at this pick.  

Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: A thick-trunked, stout interior defender equipped to handle the dirty work, Williams is a movement nose tackle in the mold of Casey Hampton, although not quite as strong, powerful or agile. Can become a very effective two-down run stuffer in a four-man front if he learns to play with consistent leverage and becomes a better hands fighter.

NFL projection: First-round pick

GM Jr’s scouting report:  Williams is a player that I knew nothing of when I began evaluating Tennessee’s prospects, but within the 1^st quarter of the Georgia he showed his athleticism and made a big play.  He looks short and stocky on film (looks more like a 6’0 player than a 6’2 one) and plays upright and high too often, which limits his ability to be as productive as he flashes the ability to.  While he is not a premier DT prospect, DT’s with foot quicks, athleticism, playing speed and very good natural strength are hard to find and Williams has those traits.  Despite his food quicks, Williams lacks the explosiveness off the ball to shot gap and get back-field penetration consistently.  Overall Williams is going to need to learn to play with base/leverage and use his hands more aggressively on every snap if he is going to be as productive in the NFL as he was at Tennessee in 2009.  I believe that his short and stocky build combined with a somewhat soft looking physique is a real concern because he was not as consistently productive on film as he has the ability to be.  I am leery of him because players rarely become more committed and productive in the NFL than they were in college, which is why I would not draft Williams in the 1^st round (Which is where he is expected to be chosen). 

Lindy’s Sports scouting report:  With a combination of great strength and burst to project nicely at defensive tackle or on the nose, Williams may only have to convince scouts that his senior wasn’t a fluke to rank among the elite in what some believe is an historic class of interior defensive lineman. 

Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695

GM Jr. 2010 Draft Guide available @ http://gmjrnfldraft.com/

Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332

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