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WR Preston Williams, MIA (2 Viewers)

The Athletic's Dane Brugler said, "it sounds like a long shot" that Colorado State WR Preston Williams gets drafted.

Williams (6'4/210) has completely shattered his what could have been first-round grade with off-field issues and a disastrous Pro Day earlier this week. His 4.57-second forty and 31.5-inch vertical jump aren't reflective of his on-field talents, highlighting concerns over his commitment to earning NFL chances. There are on-field reasons to bet on Williams as an undrafted free agent, but it's hard to project Williams seeing the field at the next level at this point.

SOURCE: Dane Brugler on Twitter

Mar 8, 2019, 6:42 PM

 
It's been said a lot about all these other WR's how they all lack the ability to show their separation skills or that's the biggest question mark for most of them.  This guy gets his separation and then burns the DB even more running away from them.  I absolutely love this WR class to death that has a top10 WR's that I'd put up against ANYONE from last year.  At first I was thinking only 3-5 guys from this year vs last, but now I'm so thrilled.  

I talk about my "favorites" a lot on here it seems but this guy is absolutely the only guy I NEED to have on my teams.  I won't care one bit if he goes undrafted in the NFL draft, I'm still taking him top12.  
Undrafted and taking top 12...you got some guts.

 
I might be misreading you here but these seem like incompatible posts, right? 
Maybe a bit pre-mature on my top12 comment.  But I'll still be keeping him rather high.  The allure of other players could push him down my list a bit.  I still like him a lot, probably to a fault, but I'll die on that ledge.  Draft capital is always a big piece of the puzzle for guys with off the field concerns though, and if a team takes him earlier than expected (at this point being drafted at all), then I think I'd "safely" have him higher than I would if he goes undrafted.  I think everyone would of taken Tyreek Hill further ahead of guys in 2016 since he got drafted rather than the popular opinion that he'd be a undrafted free agent for teams to sign.  Hindsight helps us see a case for that and I'm simply trusting what I've seen.  If he gets drafted I'll hold him highly and go off my gut, if he goes undrafted that'll be when others start to jump him on my rankings a bit more.  

 
NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein compares Colorado State WR Preston Williams to Martavis Bryant.

There are a lot of good things about being compared to Bryant, and a whole lot of bad things. ""He's got some really good tape, but now he has a disappointing workout to go with character red flags,an NFL general manager told Zierlein. "That's a bad combination. We won't take him but I would guess he could go in the middle rounds." Zierlein does note that Williams has the "physical traits to become a bona fide playmaker," and not many were more productive than the 6-foot-4, 210-pound wideout. He remains one of the biggest enigmas of the draft.

SOURCE: NFL.com

Mar 19, 2019, 3:15 PM
 
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller compared Colorado State WR Preston Williams to Philadelphia Eagles WR Mack Hollins.

"On the field, Williams has huge—maybe even first-round—potential," Miller writes. On the field. Of course, with Williams, there is all kind of baggage. Not only in his 2017 arrests relating to a confrontation with a girlfriend, but also on the health front, as he sustained a torn ACL in 2014. At least when it comes to the knee, Williams appears to be in the clear. Miller refers to him as a "development prospect' who could contribute in two or three years down the road.

SOURCE: Bleacher Report

Apr 4, 2019, 6:28 PM

 
Colorado State WR Preston Williams will be visiting with the 49ers on Sunday and Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Williams (6'4/210) put up some gaudy numbers in 2018, catching 98 passes for 1,345 yards and 14 touchdowns, but his performance on the pre-draft "circuit" has left much to be desired. The former Colorado State standout did not have a good pro day, and there are off-field (charges stemming from a confrontation with a girlfriend, which led to his being suspended for all of 2017) and health concerns (torn ACL in 2014) to be taken into account as well. As a result, it's possible that Williams will have to go the UDFA route when it comes to earning an NFL roster spot. At best he's a Day 3 draft pick, despite the on-field production in 2018.

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Apr 14, 2019, 5:04 PM

 
Buzz on what the Dolphins are getting with their undrafted rookie pickups on offense

Excerpt:

Colorado State receiver Preston Williams: 

A former elite recruit out of Georgia, the 6-4 Williams had two nondescript years at Tennessee, then blossomed in his one season at Colorado State last year, producing 96 catches for 1,345 yards (he led the Mountain West in both categories).

Pro Football Focus calls him one of the NFL’s 10 best undrafted free agent signings.

Here was the write-up from PFF’s Austin Gayle after the draft: “Off-field concerns pushed Williams out of this year’s draft, not his on-field talent or production. In his lone season at Colorado State (2018), Williams earned the 10th-best overall grade (84.0) among draft-eligible FBS wide receivers. 

“He caught 97-of-166 targets for 1,339 yards, 51 first downs, and 14 touchdowns. He’s a big, athletic wide receiver that can win with just his natural ability but will need to add some polish to his game and keep a clean sheet off the field to reach his sky-high potential in the NFL.”

Here are those off-field issues: According to Coloradoan.com, Williams “was suspended for much of [the 2017] season following arrests for harassment, tampering and domestic violence after an altercation with a former girlfriend. Williams allegedly shoved her multiple times during an argument at an off-campus apartment the two shared, according to Fort Collins police reports. He was arrested again three weeks later by CSU police for violating a restraining order after the first arrest. Williams pleaded guilty to the harassment charge and received a deferred sentence. The other charges were dismissed by Larimer County Court Judge Mary Joan Berenato, according to court records.”

Williams’ coach at Colorado State, Mike Bobo, told The Fort Collins newspaper that situation “was a tough process for him. Basically, he was suspended indefinitely, had no access to the building and had to clean up some things on his own. It was a lot of checklists that he had to go through with us and other people and certain things, and he handled those things like he was supposed to. It was a growing up process for him.”

Bobo said this past season, Williams was always there “to make a big play when you need it.”

Draft analyst Tony Pauline indicated that he needs more convincing about Williams as a prospect. 

“He’s a big guy, big target, but has a very unpolished game and didn’t test well,” Pauline said by phone. “Ran 4.6 in his pro day and had the off-field issues. He had huge numbers in spots, but he tape wasn’t impressive to me.”

▪ Stanford receiver Trenton Irwin: 

The 6-2 Irwin had 60 catches for 685 yards last season. And per PPF, Irwin caught 78.9 percent of the passes thrown his way last season (60 of 76) — which was good for 10th-best among all receivers in the country — and dropped just one pass.

He also returned 22 punts for 230 yards in his career (a 10.5 average).

“He’s a slot receiver/ return specialist,” Pauline told me. “Good route runner, catches the ball well.”

Here’s the challenge for Williams and Irwin: Miami already has six NFL-proven receivers in Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant, Ricardo Louis and Brice Butler. 

For Williams or Irwin to make the team, either one of them would need to be great the next four months and Butler or Louis would need to be unimpressive. Or one of the top six would need to be injured.

 
Excited about his landing spot.

Is anyone drafting him? where is he going? Was hoping to get him UDFA
I chuckled that he has to beat out "proven" NFL players Brice Butler and Ricardo Louis... if he can't do that... then.... 

I'm not sure if those players are special teams guys I guess. 

 
I just took him at the start of the fourth round of my rookie draft. My team is more WR needy so willing to make a few dart throws at the position

 
Excited about his landing spot.

Is anyone drafting him? where is he going? Was hoping to get him UDFA
Of course I'm drafting him... I'm taking him late 2nd if possible, more than likely early 3rd though where I can.  But then again I'm the highest of anyone on him and I'm the outlier probably.  

 
tangfoot said:
LOFL at the bolded
I say that because he's my 18th ranked player right now.  If I'm in the late 2nd and someone ahead is still on my board, they'll go first.  But I get why it is very possible haha.

 
Of course I'm drafting him... I'm taking him late 2nd if possible, more than likely early 3rd though where I can.  But then again I'm the highest of anyone on him and I'm the outlier probably.  


I say that because he's my 18th ranked player right now.  If I'm in the late 2nd and someone ahead is still on my board, they'll go first.  But I get why it is very possible haha.
I took him with pick #45, non IDP. If he's not there in the late 2nd, you might have his cousin in your league.

 
I say that because he's my 18th ranked player right now.  If I'm in the late 2nd and someone ahead is still on my board, they'll go first.  But I get why it is very possible haha.
Hard for me to tell another person who or what to rank. My rankings differ quite wildly from the community. So if you want to keep him there more power to you. What I do though is drop all the undrafted players off my board after the draft and build from there making them a priority when I’m done with the drafted players. There is simply too much probability of failure with a UDFA. At the same time I keep players who were off my board, off my board (like Riley Ridley for instance). But Emanuel Hall, Ashton Dulin, Dillon Mitchel (7th rounder) and Jazz Ferguson all had to take substantial drops for me and I am still very high on all those guys profiles. Like I said, one mans view point. If you see him as clearly more valuable then those around him go for it but I would shoot to maximize the value of the picks. 

 
First draft of the year started Friday, he went second to last pick today. Was gonna be a priority waiver add for me but oh well. Have a fourth in my next league so will hope he is there for that one

 
Off field issues, bad hands, poor effort, and lousy attitude.  The type of guy that coaches just can’t help but want because of the size and athleticism but will quickly give up on in favor of guys who really want to play when they see that he just doesn’t care about getting better or helping the team.

He’s available in the 8th round of our 14 team IDP draft - bypassed by some pretty savvy FF guys even this late.  Think I’ll join them and pick a guy who is a football player instead.

 
Dolphins hoping they found a gem with one of college football’s most prolific rookie WRs

The Dolphins have found a receiver who ranked among the top five in college football in the three most-often-cited statistical categories last season. And they didn’t even need to use a draft pick to get him.

With Ricardo Louis going on season-ending injured reserve on Thursday with a knee issue, undrafted Colorado State receiver Preston Williams will have every opportunity to make the Dolphins as a sixth receiver.

Keep in mind this was a player who led the Mountain West with 96 catches for 1345 yards last season.

He was third in the country in receptions, tied for third in touchdowns caught and fourth in receiving yards.

The NCAA leader in receiving yards, coincidentally, was Massachusetts’ Andy Isabella, who was used by Arizona with the draft pick (62nd overall) sent by Miami to the Cardinals for Josh Rosen.

The Dolphins hope they’ve found an overlooked gem in Williams, who made a couple of nice catches in Tuesday’s OTA session, the only practice open to reporters this week.

“One of the few five-star recruits you’ll be able to get,” Dolphins assistant general manager Marvin Allen told the Dolphins’ web site. “Tremendously talented receiver. Uses his length, does a great job adjusting his body. He’s a playmaker.”

Even after transferring to Colorado State after two nondescript seasons at Tennessee, Williams had first-round talent, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper. But his pro stock took a hit because of 2007 arrests.

According to Coloradoan.com, Williams “was suspended for much of [the 2017] season following arrests for harassment, tampering and domestic violence after an altercation with a former girlfriend. Williams allegedly shoved her multiple times during an argument at an off-campus apartment the two shared, according to Fort Collins police reports. He was arrested again three weeks later by CSU police for violating a restraining order after the first arrest. Williams pleaded guilty to the harassment charge and received a deferred sentence. The other charges were dismissed by Larimer County Court Judge Mary Joan Berenato, according to court records.”

He said he was forthright with the Dolphins about those incidents.

“I just told them the honest truth,” Williams said this past week. “I kept it real with them. At the end of the day, that’s all you can do.”

And lessons learned?

“You have to be a professional on the field and off the field,” he said. “I just try to stay clean and do what I’m supposed to do.... Things happened in the past. I’m not complaining about it. I’m just moving forward. The past is behind me.”

Williams is a big fan of Randy Moss and watched him closely growing up. Both are the same size (6-4) and weight (210).

If Williams is even a fifth of the player Moss was, Miami will have uncovered a gem.

 
two points :Ricardo Luis going on IR removes one more obstacle.  

From beat writer Omar Kelly (He's an acquired taste, I appreciate his work but don't take his word  as gospel) 

Top performers from today's OTA session: 1. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (as @Safid_Deen puts it, he made it look easy). 2. LBer Sam Equavoen (interception off Josh Rosen). 3. WR Preston Williams (the rookie got open plenty)

 
Here comes the positive hype.  Average situation... No competition for targets... I've acquired him in the 5th round everywhere that has drafted, I wonder if he will start going earlier if the positive hype continues. 

 
Here comes the positive hype.  Average situation... No competition for targets... I've acquired him in the 5th round everywhere that has drafted, I wonder if he will start going earlier if the positive hype continues. 
Same. He is my favorite late round WR flier. 

 
Went undrafted in one of my FFPC leagues that just completed.  Still on the board in the late 7th in another.  Guess depends on format he isn't much of a pick for an FFPC league.  If your league has taxi squad he could be a late round flyer.  

 
Here comes the positive hype.  Average situation... No competition for targets... I've acquired him in the 5th round everywhere that has drafted, I wonder if he will start going earlier if the positive hype continues. 
:confused:  You think he has a shot at beating out Stills, Wilson and Parker? Stills and Wilson are two of the most underrated, under-appreciated WR’s in the league. Stills is an elite deep threat and Wilson has elite YAC ability. Parker everyone thought was going to be AJ Green 2.0 coming out and was in God-Gase’s doghouse. He’ll get another fair shot. I don’t know why this situation would 1) be viewed as favorable with Fitzpatrick/Rosen and 2) that he would have the ability to crack into the top three I don’t see as even a fathomable possibility outside of injury.  

 
:confused:  You think he has a shot at beating out Stills, Wilson and Parker? Stills and Wilson are two of the most underrated, under-appreciated WR’s in the league. Stills is an elite deep threat and Wilson has elite YAC ability. Parker everyone thought was going to be AJ Green 2.0 coming out and was in God-Gase’s doghouse. He’ll get another fair shot. I don’t know why this situation would 1) be viewed as favorable with Fitzpatrick/Rosen and 2) that he would have the ability to crack into the top three I don’t see as even a fathomable possibility outside of injury.  
Regardless of how underrated you think those guys are, you’d be hard pressed to find a worse top 3 for WRs on many other rosters in the league.  And no, I don’t think Williams ever amounts to anything.  But if he’s going to, yes, this is as ripe an opportunity as any.

 
:confused:  You think he has a shot at beating out Stills, Wilson and Parker? Stills and Wilson are two of the most underrated, under-appreciated WR’s in the league. Stills is an elite deep threat and Wilson has elite YAC ability. Parker everyone thought was going to be AJ Green 2.0 coming out and was in God-Gase’s doghouse. He’ll get another fair shot. I don’t know why this situation would 1) be viewed as favorable with Fitzpatrick/Rosen and 2) that he would have the ability to crack into the top three I don’t see as even a fathomable possibility outside of injury.  
I think it's as good as opportunity as you'll find out there.  It's a new coaching staff too, they are usually trying to bring in new players. 

The situation is just average.  Decent for Williams in the short term because Fitzpatrick isn't afraid to force it in there.  They will also probably throw a lot because they suck... Badly. 

I also believe all 3 of those guys missed time last year if I'm not mistaken. 

 
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All 3 of those wr's have 2 years remaining on their contracts. If he doesn't beat one or two out of a starting position, it could be 2021 before he gets a shot.

 
Regardless of how underrated you think those guys are, you’d be hard pressed to find a worse top 3 for WRs on many other rosters in the league.  And no, I don’t think Williams ever amounts to anything.  But if he’s going to, yes, this is as ripe an opportunity as any.
Washington is worse. 

 
Regardless of how underrated you think those guys are, you’d be hard pressed to find a worse top 3 for WRs on many other rosters in the league.  And no, I don’t think Williams ever amounts to anything.  But if he’s going to, yes, this is as ripe an opportunity as any.


Washington is worse. 
You didn’t bold far enough into my sentence.  I bolded the entirety of the sentence for you.  Yes, Washington is on par.  Point remains.  

 
Regardless of how underrated you think those guys are, you’d be hard pressed to find a worse top 3 for WRs on many other rosters in the league.  And no, I don’t think Williams ever amounts to anything.  But if he’s going to, yes, this is as ripe an opportunity as any.


If you think Washington is on par, then I bolded the only relevant part earlier.
Find. A. Worse. Top. 3. For. WRs. On. Many. Other. Rosters. In. The. League.

GO.

 
The more I see of this guy the more I am impressed with his potential. Unfortunately he may have a tough go making the roster and getting the development he needs. May be a good practice squad addition this year and see if he has the work ethic to get better next year. Worth keeping an eye...good length and playmaking ability.

 
Got him for a buck in FA in one dynasty after the rookie draft and in the 6th round of a six round rookie draft in another. Certainly worth the gamble at either price.

 
Soft.  Won't make it in the NFL. Got a good team to help him pull it off, but it won't happen.

Would love to be wrong about him, but I doubt it.

 
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