New England Patriots Rumors: Jameson Williams could be Pats top pick

The New England Patriots are beginning to ramp up their offseason preparations. Since they were eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Buffalo Bills, they will get a bit of a head start on their work, although they will have to wait until the conclusion of the postseason to truly get started.

One area the Patriots can really get to work on is identifying potential targets for the 2022 NFL Draft. With the Wild Card round now in the rearview mirror, New England settled into the 21st pick in the draft, which should allow them to bring in a player that can contribute right off the bat. The Pats have previously found some gems at the 21st pick such as Vince Wilfork and Chandler Jones, so assuming they hold onto the pick, there are going to be some high expectations.

After getting thoroughly destroyed by Buffalo to end their season, it’s clear there are a couple of positions New England needs to look into upgrading. One of those positions is clear as day, and it’s wide receiver. The Pats got some good production from Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne, but it’s clear they need to add another talented wideout to help them take the next step forward on offense.

This upcoming draft class is set to feature some really talented wideouts that could go in the first round, and that should be music to many Patriots’ fans ears. Among them is Jameson Williams, who was projected to get scooped up by the Patriots in Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft of the year. A lot could happen between then and now, but if Williams ends up finding his way on the New England Patriots roster, Mac Jones might finally have himself a top tier wide receiver.

Jameson Williams could be just what the New England Patriots offense needs

Williams spent his first two years of college with Ohio State before transferring to Alabama for his junior year. It turns out that was just what Williams needed to take his game to the next level. Williams was the favorite target of Alabama’s quarterback, Bryce Young, and helped power the Crimson Tide to their second straight National Championship Game.

Unfortunately, Williams ended up tearing his ACL in that game, and Alabama’s offense couldn’t recover as they went on to lose 33-18 to Georgia. It was a tough end to a breakout campaign for Williams, and despite the fact that he sufferred a severe injury in the game, Williams declared for the 2022 Draft shortly thereafter.

Based on Williams’ final numbers from the season (79 REC, 1572 YDS, 15 TD) you would think he would be the top wide receiver in the draft, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Teams may shy away from Williams because of his injury, which could keep him out to start training camp in the summer. As a result, Williams could end up falling all the way down to the Patriots, who would happily take him with the 21st pick.

The thing that stands out about Williams the most is his speed. He has the ability to create separation from his defender on almost every play, regardless of what route he is running. If you want to dial up a deep pass, Williams will just outrun his defender. And if you want to go short, Williams has the ability to make himself open for the quarterback quickly, which is something that Jones didn’t always have at his disposal this past season.

Prior to his ACL injury, Williams was the clear cut choice to be the top wide receiver in this draft. Assuming he’s able to make a full recovery, he still can become that guy, so if he were to fall to New England, that would be an opportunity that’s almost too good to pass up. Williams could be the true number one wideout that the New England Patriots need to help the offense improve their game next season.

If the Patriots ended up with Williams, he would join Meyers and Bourne to form a potent trio of receivers at Jones’ disposal. Meyers developed himself into a safety valve of sorts for Jones, while Bourne offers big-play ability that no one else on the offense can really match.

Williams can be pretty much be whatever you want him to be. If you want a deep shot, put him on the outside and let him go to work. If you need a first down on third and short, put him in the slot and have him get open in the middle. The Pats tried to have Meyers be that guy who can get open on gotta-have-it plays, and while he’s been solid in that role, Williams would offer a clear upgrade over him.

With the 21st pick in the draft, the New England Patriots have the ability to add some pass catching talent to help out Jones and the offense if they choose to do so. If Williams somehow falls to New England, it would be a dream come true for the Pats. New England needs to add some more playmaking talent on offense, and it they choose to do so through the draft, there wouldn’t be a better pick than Williams.