Los Angeles Chargers: 3 Reasons Mike Williams will dominate the NFL
Los Angeles Chargers' rookie Mike Williams excelled at the collegiate level and will only continue to improve in the National Football League.
The newly re-located Los Angeles Chargers used their seventh overall pick this offseason to draft wide receiver Mike Williams from Clemson. This was one of the first picks in many years that didn't feel like a stretch among the first 10 picks. Chargers fans should already be pleased with what they've seen from him so far.
Not including his neck injury in 2015, Williams had a great career for Dabo Swinney at Clemson. He dominated the ACC on a regular basis and also, helped the Tigers beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship last year.
At 6-4 and 218 pounds, Mike Williams has the size and hands to become a fantastic receiver at the NFL level. While expectations for Williams need to be tempered a bit, this guy has everything you want in a franchise player. Size, hands, dependability, and big-play ability — he even showed more speed than people expected at the NFL Combine.
That being said, I truly believe that Williams will become one of the best receivers in the NFL in a very short amount of time.
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Mike Williams (7) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
3. Williams proved his worth at college football's highest level
Let's be honest; just because someone played well in college, doesn't mean that they are going to play well in the National Football League. I don't know about you, but I can think of hundreds of great college football players that never quite made an impact for an NFL franchise. That being said, don't fall into the trap that Mike Williams will be one of those guys.
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I am a huge believer that great players have great games when their team's season is on the line. If you don't believe me, just take into consideration what Williams did for the Clemson Tigers last season in the College Football Playoff, the highest level of competition in the league, wrought with NFL caliber talent.
According to Sports-Reference, Williams had six receptions for 96 yards in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State and followed that performance up with eight receptions for 94 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown in the National Championship. You're allowed to be excited Chargers fans, this guy is going to be at the top of the NFL for a long time to come. He's already proven against the best in college that he can dominate, and that's not a trend likely to be bucked.
Jan 29, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; AFC quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers (17) throws a pass against the NFC during the second half at the 2017 Pro Bowl at Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
2. That old guy behind center
All kidding aside, Philip Rivers is one of the most durable quarterbacks in the entire NFL and it seems like he just gets better with age. Rivers is truly a gun-slinger and can make or break a game for the Chargers. However, this is just the type of guy that Williams needs in order to be successful early.
According to Pro Football Reference, Rivers threw 33 touchdowns last season. To put that into perspective, that was his highest touchdown total since 2008 when he threw a career-high 34 touchdown passes. So despite the narrative that the Chargers were "horrible" or any synonymous term last season, the veteran quarterback was largely far from it.
Mike Williams is a big-bodied receiver who will terrorize corners down the sideline. When you realize that five different Chargers' receivers had a touchdown catch of 50 yards or longer last season, it becomes easier to see why Los Angeles decided to go with the kid from Clemson. The old gun-slinger is going to make people who drafted Mike Williams in fantasy football very happy in 2017.
Jan 21, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; General view of Los Angeles Chargers helmet at StubHub Center.The Chargers will play the 2017 and 2018 seasons at the StubHub Center as part of Chargers owner Dean Spanos (not pictured) relocation of the franchise from San Diego to Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
1. The Chargers Have An Extremely Deep Receiving Core
Actually, the No. 1 reason why Williams will dominate the NFL has more to do with his teammates. Sometimes great collegiate receivers come into the NFL, get drafted too high, and have unrealistic expectations put onto their shoulders. Largely, that's because the team they were drafted in to didn't have much at that position anyways.
With that being said, Williams is coming into an already insanely-talented group of receivers/tight-ends. The presence of Travis Benjamin, Kennan Allen, Tyrell Williams, Antonio Gates, and Hunter Henry will take a lot of pressure off of Williams. Not to mention, it will take a lot of the defensive coverage off of him as well.
The key for that group — particularly the likes of Allen — is staying healthy. That's been an issue in recent years, but he's proven to be highly effective when on the field. Having him out there with he and Williams complementing one another on the outside would be dangerous for opponents.
Covering that group is going to be an extremely difficult task for most of the defenses in the NFL this season. Good luck, AFC West.
