Detroit Lions 2019 Draft Profile: Cornerback Greedy Williams

Whether Detroit Lions fans want to admit it or not, this team is out of the playoffs should start looking forward to the upcoming draft in April.

Despite being graciously including on all the “In The Hunt” graphics when various television networks talk about the playoff picture, it’s safe to say that the Detroit Lions are not going to be playing past December.

With that being said, it’s time to start talking about what every Lions fan looks forward around this time of year: looking at mock drafts and projecting what next year’s team may look like.

As Detroit fans are too well aware, there are plenty of holes on this football team. Stafford could use another pass catcher. And another defensive lineman could help a young defensive line get even better.

But arguably, the biggest need on this football team is in the back seven, as the defense could use another playmaker that can step up in the run game, while also being able to cover the pass.

That’s where LSU cornerback Greedy Williams comes into play. Williams can step on the outside opposite Darius Slay, providing another threat that opposing offenses have to account for.

The Detroit Lions drafted who they thought that playmaker would be in Teez Tabor, but after being a healthy scratch in two consecutive, it’s safe to say that the Tabor experiment may already be over.

One reason why Tabor has already been labeled a bust is that defenses were able to pick on him in big situations, picking on the second-year corner on third and fourth down to come up with a handful of big plays.

With the drafting of Williams, offenses picking on the corner on the opposite side of the field as Slay on key downs would no longer be a problem. According to Pro Football Focus, opposing college quarterbacks had a passer rating of zero when throwing at him on third and fourth down, tied for the best rating in college football.

Williams has been a popular mock draft pick for the Lions as of late, as both Sporting News and The Draft Wire projecting the Lions landing the shutdown corner.

What makes Williams such a threat is his sheer size. At 6’3″ and 185 pounds, it’s safe to say that’s he’s not going to get pushed off the line by NFL receivers.

Williams broke onto the scene in 2017, as he kept the ‘DB U’ tradition alive in the Bayou, totaling 38 total tackles, 10 passes defended and six interceptions in his freshmen breakout season.

While Williams’ numbers haven’t been as good this season (33 total tackles, nine passes defended and two interceptions), it’s because offenses are not throwing at him as much, with the SEC shutdown reputation that the man has earned.

As seen in these clips, Williams’ has great awareness of his opponents’ routes, running with them step-for-step before challenging the pass at its ideal point and showing off his ball-hawking skills.

The Detroit Lions defense is chock full of versatile athletes who can use their size and physicality to throw opposing teams off their game, which is exactly why Williams would make a perfect fit for Patricia’s defense.

With the lack of quality play from Tabor and the inconsistencies of corners such as Nevin Lawson and Mike Ford, the Lions defense could use Williams to play on the other side of Slay, finalizing the ideal pass defense that Patricia and his regime are trying to build.

Come late April, Lions fans should hope that LSU’s Williams falls right into their laps, solidifying their defense and allowing their young corner to learn from the Lions former pro bowl pass defender.