Cleveland Browns: 2019 7-Round mock draft, Vol. 4
By Peter Smith
Round 3: Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt – 6-3, 208 lbs. (Listed)
- 48 solo tackles (9 percent), 13 pass deflections (23.2 percent), 4 interceptions in 2018.
Age: 21 years old (Born Dec. 6, 1997)
Williams has ideal production against difficult competition and he’s very young. And while the change from Gregg Williams to Steve Wilks could alter some defensive philosophies, their focus on defensive backs who are aggressive tacklers, like Williams, seems unlikely to change. He also fits in a Cover-3 scheme which Wilks has used quite a bit, but can player press man as well.
Whether he’s a legitimate 6-3 or not remains to be seen, but he is a very long corner with a good amount of heft. He is strong at the point of attack when it comes to jamming receivers, running them out of bounds or taking on and defeating blocks. And perhaps the Browns would be thrilled to have a clone of Denzel Ward on the opposite side of the field, but Williams gives them another good option to change up looks and matchups against teams with receiving threats.
Williams is aggressive attacking down hill when he reads run or is trying to take away a screen. At times, he can be out of control and miss tackles as a result. He is physical, willing to take on blockers and fight them to get to the ball carrier. And at times, he’s simply bigger than the receiver and can physically overpower them to close down a running lane.
Williams will likely be knocked for being handsy, fairly, but he was within the rules for college. He will need to make the adjustments in the NFL to avoid some penalties.
When he lands his jam, he can erase receivers from a play, stoning them or just taking them out of bounds. Williams is a tougher player to beat on slants because he holds his ground, can follow the route and can reach to knock down or tackle the pass. When he is in phase in coverage, he can make a receiver disappear because he’s so long, it’s very difficult to throw it around him. Add in the fact he shows the ability to locate the ball and make plays on it and he can punish teams for throwing at him, intercepting four passes this season.
For athletic testing and drills, the focus will largely be on his hips and how quick he can flip them when he changes directions. He seems to have plenty of long speed, so if he demonstrates great hips, he might be a player that warrants an earlier pick. The good news for the Browns is the corner class is deep enough that a player, whether it’s Williams or someone else, could fall in their lap.
Between drafting Ward last year and adding Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie in free agency, the Browns shouldn’t need Williams to play early. They have a young, very talented player they can take some time in developing until injury or his own play forces his way onto the field covering the boundary. He also played exclusively on the left, which is where Ward plays, so adjusting to the other side will take a little time.
Some Other Interesting Possibilities Foregone: Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State; Charles Omenihu, DL, Texas