Mel Kiper fires back at Todd McShay over Jameson Williams/Joe Burrow

During ESPN’s SportsCenter special with NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, the two went back and forth discussing the formers first 2022 mock draft based on his scouting and the things he is hearing around the league. As the conversation turned to former Ohio State and Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, things got chippy between friends.

After starting his career unceremoniously at Ohio State, Williams transferred to Alabama and starred throughout the 2021 season, making him a top NFL prospect.

“If you don’t factor in the injury, I would take him as the number one receiver in this class and I was thinking about somewhere in the top ten,” said McShay. “Now you lose him for part of the rookie season. Is he going to be full strength until maybe his second year in the NFL? And so you have concerns there. I get it.

“And also scouts I’ve talked to, they point to why wasn’t he one of the guys at Ohio State? He was basically going to be a number three/number four ultimately this past season. Now, granted the first three guys we talked about (Chris) Olave, Garrett Wilson and then their slot receiver all are going to be first-round receivers in the NFL. So you understand why but the practice habits and the consistency in practice weren’t as good as in the game. You saw when he got in the game at Alabama it’s a whole different animal.

The subtle dig at Williams did not sit well with Kiper, who quickly reminded McShay that sometimes the grass is simply greener on the other side.

“Hey Todd ask your friends why Joe Burrow wasn’t the guy at Ohio State?” asked Kiper.

“That’s a good point too,” said McShay. “There’s a lot of talent there.”

Todd McSay on Jameson Williams

As Mel Kiper and Todd McShay continued their dialog about Jameson Williams, the one point they could fully agree on was talent. Without the postseason injury, he could have been in line for a top-10 pick and even with an ACL tear is considered a first-round pick.

After seeing that Kiper mocked the Alabama wide receiver to the New England Patriots, McShay gave his thoughts on the fit.

“This guy is special in terms of speed,” McShay said. “If the Patriots were to get him at 21, they would be in complete luck having that pick there because I believe he’s going to be a huge difference maker in the NFL. It may take until his second year but it’s worth the investment and it’s worth the wait.”