Packers Select Dexter Williams, Running Back, in 2019 NFL Draft - Round 6
MEASURABLES/COMBINE:
4.57 40 / 17 bench press reps / 36.0 vert / 130 broad jump / 7.0 cone drill / 4.16 cone drill
CAREER NOTES:
He played four years for the Irish, amassing over 1,600 yards, 20 touchdowns on the ground and finished with a career rushing average of 6.4 yards per carry. His senior season saw him become a factor in the team's receiving plans, hauling in 16 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. His production was stunted in his junior season due to an ankle injury and his senior year was plagued with an undisclosed suspension. That caused him to miss three games for the second consecutive year.
SCOUTING REPORT:
NFL.com: Ascending every-down running back prospect who showed major flashes of becoming an NFL starter in his most active season to date. Williams runs with a good combination of feel, force and juice, which allows for a variety of methods in creating yards for himself. His evaluation could require additional character work and his relative lack of experience could mean a slower integration into an NFL offense; however, he offers exciting upside with the talent to become a productive, NFL starter.
The Draft Network: A smart runner who reads blocks well and rarely misses his gap, Williams' best traits are his vision and patience as a runner, allowing him to consistently get every inch that is blocked for him. The problem? He does almost nothing outside of structure, rarely breaking a tackle or showing any elusiveness in the open field. Williams' lack of impact as a receiver and pass protector have him looking at a rotational role early in his career, but in the right situation with a strong offensive line, he could be a productive back at the next level. Unfortunately there is a long list of running backs that fit that description, and nothing about Williams' skill set suggests he'll be uniquely impactful enough to be worth a high pick.
COMMENTARY:
The Packers needed that third running back in Matt LaFleur's offense behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Alas, Williams was the pick. He'll provide that third body and considering they aren't going to run Jones down to the bone, this was necessary. Williams wasn't one of the more highly-touted prospects at his position entering this weekend, but th e Packers are going to want to run the ball a lot in LaFleur's zone-blocking scheme. Finding the 5-11, 203-pound Williams offers the perfect fit.
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (52)
Bure9620
April 27, 2019 at 03:32 pm
Man I like the value here, I thought Williams could go 4th or 5th round, he fits the outside zone scheme well. Solid RB room now.
GBPDAN1
April 27, 2019 at 03:41 pm
Great pick, hope he can back away from the ganja
RWood832
April 27, 2019 at 03:43 pm
Best value pick of the entire draft IMO
@ballark
April 27, 2019 at 03:28 pm
Love this pick.
Samson
April 27, 2019 at 03:31 pm
Like the pick. -- No doubt him & Aaron Jones will get along great.
SterlingSharpe
April 27, 2019 at 04:36 pm
...and Geronimo Allison.
Samson
April 27, 2019 at 04:53 pm
I can already see some of the offensive meetings ... there's nothing funny but everyone is still laughing.
Dagger
April 27, 2019 at 08:48 pm
Samson I can see the smiling and them bringing lots of cheetos and chips to the meeting.
packerbackerjim
April 27, 2019 at 03:32 pm
The guy averaged 100+ yds/game. His 97 TD run against VA Tech is impressive considering the speed their D has. ESPN had a nice backstory about his mom who has two terminal conditions. I wish them both the best.
kevgk
April 27, 2019 at 03:33 pm
I really felt RB depth was needed, glad they found a guy. This team is running out of weaknesses.
Lphill
April 27, 2019 at 04:16 pm
The weakness is inside linebacker , Packers have 3 on the roster.
HankScorpio
April 27, 2019 at 04:35 pm
Ty Summers makes 4.
kevgk
April 27, 2019 at 05:44 pm
theyre going to play a lot of DBs this year. 3 or 4 ILBs might just be enough
sonomaca
April 27, 2019 at 03:38 pm
Pack seem to like Norte Dame offensive players.
HankScorpio
April 27, 2019 at 03:38 pm
From thedraftnetwork.com bio:
RED FLAGS - Arrest in 2016 for possession of marijuana and possessing a handgun with no license. Suspended four games for an unspecified violation of team rules to open the 2018 season.
The suspension bothers me more than the pot arrest. I trust the Packers were aware and did their homework beyond "unspecified team rules"
Bure9620
April 27, 2019 at 04:01 pm
I need a license for my handgun? I guess I better put down this bowl and go get one.
SterlingSharpe
April 27, 2019 at 04:37 pm
This just in: bruthaz love weed.
And guns.
Not breaking news......
Oppy
April 27, 2019 at 05:44 pm
Yeah, I've never heard of any white dudes who own firearms and smoke pot...It's -totally- a black thing.
GTFOHWTS
KingPacker
April 28, 2019 at 08:27 pm
Nobody’s perfect. Give the young man a chance.
Swisch
April 27, 2019 at 03:39 pm
At the risk of bragging, my own mock draft exactly matches this draft by the Packers.
My seventh-rounder is a little-known player named Doug Niemczynski, who set a record for most posts in a weekend.
Meant in a spirit of camaraderie, Doug.
:-)
albert999
April 27, 2019 at 03:53 pm
WOW
IceBowl
April 27, 2019 at 04:26 pm
Swisch,
I have to say your knowledge supersedes all. You are one smart cookie. :-) Don't worry, most 7th rnd picks have questions.
Good job.
Doug Niemczynski
April 27, 2019 at 04:22 pm
Hooray!!
Montana
April 27, 2019 at 05:31 pm
Good one Swisch, needed a laugh after so many negatives on the draft this weekend.....
Montana
April 27, 2019 at 05:49 pm
Duplicate
Since'61
April 27, 2019 at 04:01 pm
This player could contribute right away as a change of pace back. Looks like he has plenty of upside to evolve into a solid RB. Thanks, Since ‘61
I bleed green more
April 27, 2019 at 04:08 pm
He can cut well and ran away from tacklers.
Doug Niemczynski
April 27, 2019 at 04:25 pm
And the final player picked by the Arizona Cardinals - Commentator - Doug Niemczynski - Mr. Irrelevant
Minniman
April 27, 2019 at 04:36 pm
..... and on the 7th day, Doug rested, for his RSI had flared up again.
sonomaca
April 27, 2019 at 04:35 pm
Ty Summers. Great athlete, but at what position. Can’t cover (yet). Too small to be an EDGE.
Minniman
April 27, 2019 at 04:37 pm
Special team?
CheesyTex
April 27, 2019 at 04:44 pm
After free agency and the draft, it sure looks like we will see a lot of 4 -3 this year.
BamaPackFan
April 27, 2019 at 08:08 pm
Exactly what I was thinking. No need to change personnel, Gary either stands up at edge or gets in his stance at DE. I like that, and I hope that is what the Packers are thinking. Either of the new Smiths can do the same. Line up: 4-3, shift. Shift during cadence. Create confusion.
PeteK
April 28, 2019 at 12:18 pm
or 8-1 LOL
IceBowl
April 27, 2019 at 04:55 pm
sonomaca,
I think edge is covered. :-)
Tabin
April 28, 2019 at 07:55 am
He should be playing next to Martinez in run downs. Ryan and Morrison role last couple of years.
sonomaca
April 27, 2019 at 04:37 pm
Ty Summers was once an option QB.
Demon
April 27, 2019 at 04:42 pm
With the guys Gute has brought in since taking over gm, i dont think anyone can say the Pack is the slowest team in football anymore.
Lets hope the new coaching staff can harness the new horsepower.
SterlingSharpe
April 27, 2019 at 04:39 pm
Anyone happen to have combine or pro day measurables that can compare
Josh Jones, Oren Burks, with the 2 Devins from this draft?
It just seems like our guys in charge are really counting on one of them stepping up. They're gonna be needed.
Minniman
April 27, 2019 at 05:57 pm
Sterling, I'd offer that the draft suggests that the 2 of them have been issued ultimatums to step up or ship out.
I remember hearing somewhere that Josh Jones said that he'd rather be traded than moved to ILB. Not sure of the veracity of it but the Packers draft suggests that he will need to re-invent himself if he want to continue his career in the NFL.
A number of teams last year played 3 safety sets (with one of them being a glorified ILB). The speed and versatility of the S and ILB draftees (as well as Jones and Burks traits) suggest that this may be a direction that they are interested in going.
IceBowl
April 27, 2019 at 04:45 pm
SterlingSharpe,
With the players drafted, I think all the players will have a good reason to step up.
IceBowl
April 27, 2019 at 04:59 pm
Adding to that thought, I thing the UDFA's will look similar as far as speed, size and versatility.
Why would Guty change his approach now?
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 27, 2019 at 05:14 pm
Hope he is a good player as this is an area of need. Blocking and pass receiving may be a weakness, so we know where he will be spending a lot of time working.
Coldworld
April 27, 2019 at 06:57 pm
From what I’ve read, he can catch. Blocking not so much.
TheBigCheeze
April 27, 2019 at 05:20 pm
"Alas, Williams was the pick.".........what's this alas crap?......williams looks great...explosive and fast....might end up the best value in the draft.....
Coldworld
April 27, 2019 at 06:58 pm
Is a name change in order: Jamaal already has that name in the RB room?
jsb937
April 27, 2019 at 05:35 pm
Now it is up to the legislature in Wisconsin to legalize cannabis.
Tundraboy
April 27, 2019 at 05:54 pm
At least in Green Bay for the season.
tm_inter
April 27, 2019 at 05:42 pm
We now have two running backs named Williams. I anticipate mix-ups unless the coaches change their names to Jamaal and Dexter.
Oppy
April 27, 2019 at 05:47 pm
The RB group could start up a law firm: Jones, Williams & Williams, Attorneys at Law
Leftcoaster
April 27, 2019 at 08:56 pm
so if gbay was just north of the border. Would dope smoking be cool and the gang?
PAPackerbacker
April 29, 2019 at 02:37 am
This young man has a lot of talent to bring to Green Bay. I like this pick. Solid RB with great vision. Kind of reminds me a bit of Aaron Jones. Should make the team and be a good rotational RB.