Baylor wide receiver Terrance Williams exploded for 97 receptions, 1,832 yards, and 12 touchdowns in the 2012 season. The receiver redshirted in 2008, so he’s already 23 years old.
Scouting Report
At 6-2, 208 pounds, Williams has good size for the wide receiver position. Remember, height and weight are more strongly correlated with NFL success than speed for receivers, although Williams (4.47) has long speed to boot. He’s one of the better size/speed combo wide receivers in this class.
Williams is a glider with long strides, which means he can have some trouble getting in and out of his breaks. He’s not a terrible route-runner by any means, but he excels more on in-breaking and deep routes than comeback routes. Ironically, he ran a whole lot of comebacks and hitch routes at Baylor. He does a nice job of pushing those routes up the field to gain separation, and he comes back to the quarterback to make the catch.
Williams has good hands, although he lets the ball get into his body on a frequent basis. He’ll need to improve that at the next level when cornerbacks are right on his back instead of five yards behind him. Once he makes the catch, Williams looks to make plays. He has good run-after-catch ability on underneath routes and excellent body control on deep routes. He uses his big frame to shield off defenders pretty easily.
One of the biggest questions for Williams right now is whether or not he can get off of a press. He rarely faced press coverage at Baylor, so it will be interesting to see how the receiver—a player with better long speed than short-area quickness—handles a strong defensive back in his face.
NFL Comparison: Roddy White
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White’s body is similar to that of Williams, and the two have comparable skill sets as well. Both can make plays all over the field. White is a superior route-runner at this point, although you could argue that Williams “plays bigger” in that he’s more physical and he more aptly uses his body to make plays.
Projection
Williams has a shot to get drafted in the back of the first round, although he’ll probably be ranked behind receivers like Tavon Austin, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, and Cordarrelle Patterson on most boards. Thus, Williams will likely fall somewhere in the second round, although the third is a small possibility.
Fit In Dallas
The Cowboys reportedly have interest in Williams, and I think the fit makes sense. Fans and media are looking for a small slot receiver to complement Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, but that’s not really what the team needs. Austin already plays the slot for the Cowboys, and the team has Cole Beasley and Dwayne Harris, too. The offense could potentially be debilitated if either Austin or Bryant gets injured, so they really need another big, physical outside receiver as their No. 3.
Other Scouting Reports
Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State
Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State
D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina
Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
JJ Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern
Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.
