Check out these photos of Leonard Williams, a versatile defensive end out of the University of Southern California.
Considered by many to be the most NFL ready prospect this year, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah thinks USC defensive end Leonard Williams could go to the Redskins with the fifth-overall pick in April's draft.
In his most recent mock draft, Jeremiah explains that Williams, an All-American, could start for the Redskins right away if he’s drafted by Washington.
"The Redskins need help in several areas, and Williams would be a steal at this spot," Jeremiah writes. "He can dominate versus the run and pass."* *
Along with being an All-American following a highly productive junior season in which he recorded 80 tackles with seven sacks, Williams was also named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, and earned several postseason honors from various media outlets.
As he prepares to transition to the NFL, the 6-foot-5, 300 pounder is considered a "supremely gifted interior lineman with length, athleticism and elite power."
"Lined up just about everywhere along the line at one point or another," his NFL.com profile says. "Able to jolt offensive linemen with powerful hands and is extremely hard to redirect for offensive linemen once he gets going downhill. Explosive hip snap to leverage blockers and is rarely moved from his gap. Often a read-and-react two-gapper and plays peek-a-boo with running backs while discarding blockers at will when he's ready to tackle. Too much play strength for zone blockers to cross-face him. Fires out with low pad level when playing the run and is difficult to submarine on short yardage. Has feet and brute force to recover and get back into a play after being beaten early. Dangerous pass rusher from twist game, showing big closing burst. Effort rusher who will eventually get home if single-blocked. Beginning to develop spin move as pass-rush counter. Showed intriguing potential as a pass-rushing end in space. Frame able to hold more weight and muscle.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says Williams could turn out to be like six-time Pro Bowler Kevin Williams.
Currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Williams made a name for himself early in his career with the Minnesota Vikings, as he recorded 22 sacks in his first two seasons and has 63 total quarterback takedowns during his 12-year career.
NFL.com BOTTOM LINE:"Enormously powerful defensive lineman. Has the look and feel of the biggest, strongest kid on the playground but hasn't figured out how to unlock his natural gifts and consistently dominate the rest of the kids on the playground just yet. Williams can play in an odd or even front, and is able to hold the point as a two-gapper or disrupt upfield. With coaching and more experience, Williams should be able to match the athleticism with the power and become a consistent Pro Bowler with a ceiling that goes even higher than that."
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