Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams is considered the top prospect at the position among most NFL draft observers. Yet despite his physical ability and the constant need for pass-catchers in today's league, Williams is expected to drop to the second-round.
Why? Simple: he still can't block consistently and has trouble with route running. These are not uncommon problems for young tight ends and Williams is only 20 years old.
"The need to polish those areas is among the reasons NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. have said on conference calls they view Williams as a second-round pick instead of a surefire first-round selection," Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal wrote.
"But they also deem him the best tight end in the upcoming draft with the University of Miami's Clive Walford, a projected second- or third-round choice, next in line."
Williams also reportedly struggled to answer certain difficult questions at the NFL combine interviews, which may have hurt his draft stock slightly.
Even if Williams does fall in the draft, he won't lack for suitors overall. The Cleveland Browns lost Jordan Cameron to the Miami Dolphins in free agency and have no viable replacement on the roster. Williams could be a good fit with the No. 43 overall pick.
"Williams will undoubtedly receive more opportunities to answer tough questions from teams in the next few weeks, though a person familiar with the situation told the Beacon Journal the Browns have yet to schedule a pre-draft visit or private workout with him," Ulrich added. "The person spoke on condition of anonymity because some teams closely guard their lists of visits and workouts."
Even if the Browns are trying to get another target for Johnny Manziel or whoever is playing quarterback, they might be facing some competition for Williams.
"There are a few teams set to draft in the back end of the first round that could make a reach for Williams to fill a need at tight end," ESPN NFL Insider Tom Carpenter wrote. "That includes the Arizona Cardinals (No. 24), Baltimore Ravens (No. 26) and New Orleans Saints (No. 31), though it seems more likely that Williams will be a mid-second-rounder."
The NFL Draft kicks off April 30.
