Jameson Williams on missing NFL Combine: ‘I would have ran the fastest 40’
Jameson Williams electrified the college football world week after weeek during a 2021 season where the Alabama Crimson Tide burner played in 15 games and recorded 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns.
This 2022 NFL Draft wide receiver class was touted as one of the best in decades, and the Detroit Lions — like many other teams — still viewed Williams as one of the top pass catchers on their board.
Detroit made an aggressive trade to position themselves to land the kind of player that could re-invent the offense.
Shortly after getting the call that the Detroit Lions made the trade and were taking the Alabama burner No. 12 overall, Jameson Williams was asked if he had gotten the chance to compete in the 40-yard dash how he believes he would have performed.
“I don’t know the exact time but it would have been faster than the fastest 40 from this year,” the speedster said without hesitation.
The former track star, who entered into the transfer portal ahead of the 2021 campaign after starting his career with Ohio State said his rehab was ahead of schedule but opted to not participate in the combine.
Williams paused and then clarified his response with a bold claim considering how many players have posted insanely fast 40-yard dash times at the NFL combine over the years.
“I would have ran the fastest 40,” the former track star said.
For clarification, a the reporter asked, “you mean the fastest this year… or ever?”
“Ever,” Williams said.
How the Lions justified the aggressive Jameson Williams trade h
In the deal to move up 20 spots in the first round, the Lions gave up the No. 32, No. 34 and No. 66 picks while also acquiring Minnesota’s second-rounder at No. 46.
In doing that bold move up, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes reduced his pick count on Day 2 of the draft from three to two and the Lions now have four of the top 100 selections.
A team that is rebuilding may still have questions around Jared Goff being the long-term answer at QB, it’s clear the new regime is overhauling the culture and used the 2022 Draft to select at least two players who can change the entire complexity of the team.
They snagged the top edge rusher selecting Aidan Hutchison with the No. 2 selection and then Williams at 11.
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But in today’s NFL landscape it’s a numbers game and if Hutchinson and Williams are instant starters who live up to the expectations, the team strikes gold and can continue to build before having to pay them the second contract.
“I would say it’s good to have that fifth-year option on a guy like that, when you look at the totality of it,” Holmes said after the draft.
With Jameson, specifically, he was a guy where there was total buy-in, total conviction. I was just in love with him. I said, ‘Look, this is a guy that we want to get and I think he can be a game-changer for us.'”
On paper, it appears Holmes and the Lions’ brass had a clear strategy and the aggressive move to land Jameson Williams should pay major dividends.