Cleveland Browns: Final 7-Round 2018 mock draft (Vol. 7)
By Peter Smith
Round 2: Connor Williams, OT, Texas – 6-5.125, 296 lbs.
Age: 21 years (Born May 12, 1997)
40 Yard Dash: 5.05s
Broad Jump: 9’4″
Vertical: 34″
3-Cone: 7.83s
Shuttle: 4.63s
Bench: 26 reps
If the Browns are going to trade back up into the first round, it’s likely to be from here. Controlling 33rd pick, even if it’s ultimately to trade it the next day has a lot of value. Having the 16 hours or so to figure out how to execute the top pick of the second round is a good place to be. Should the Browns opt to stay here, someone who was expected to go in the first round will fall out and if that player is Connor Williams, the Browns should pounce.
He’s not likely to be ready to start as a rookie, which is perfectly fine. The Browns have players for that situation. Williams has the athletic profile of a Pro Bowl caliber offensive lineman and showed pretty good tape as a sophomore. But due to an injury that took much of his junior season, teams may not be as excited about him as they otherwise would have giving the Browns an opportunity to get a great player here.
Williams would fit in beautifully with Joel Bitonio and J.C. Tretter from an athletic standpoint, giving them three really talented linemen who are incredibly light on their feet. Be it in pass protection, zone blocks or various pulls, they have a ton of options. Williams can get up to speed, continue to add strength and gain confidence in what they want him to do for the next season, taking over at left tackle. Williams does have the ability to play guard and potentially center if needed, but he is first and foremost a tackle.