In a 2025 NFL Draft class with talent to spare along the defensive line, Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Mykel Williams is one of the most enticing players of the bunch.
The 2022 national champion and two-time All-SEC defender made some tremendous plays during his time with the Bulldogs. At a premier position with good production and elite tools, Williams figures to be one of the first defenders off the board come April.
Mykel Williams’ Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’5″
- Weight: 265 pounds
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Georgia
- Current Year: Junior
Williams’ Scouting Report
Williams was born in Columbus, the second-most populated city in Georgia, and attended Hardaway High School. He dominated as a defensive lineman at the high school level, finishing as the Maxwell National High School Player of the Year.
A five-star recruit, Williams initially committed to USC to play college football but eventually decided to stay in-state and go to Georgia.
Stepping into the Bulldogs’ defensive line rotation as a true freshman, Williams finished the 2022 season with 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for a loss, 27 quarterback pressures, and 28 total tackles. He earned recognition as one of the top freshman defensive linemen in the nation, and he saw team success, with Georgia winning the national championship.
The 2023 season would see similar results out of Williams, as he replicated his production with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for a loss. He also added 18 quarterback pressures and 12 hurries, earning a second-team All-SEC nomination.
Though Georgia was left out of the postseason due to a loss in the SEC Championship, they destroyed Florida State in the Orange Bowl and finished as the No. 4 team in the nation in the AP Poll by the end of the year.
Williams entered the 2024 season with significant NFL hype, seeing as though he was a toolsy young prospect who played a key role on some talented Georgia defenses as an underclassman.
Though the Bulldogs fell in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal in an expanded postseason, Williams still put together a strong junior year. He finished with 5.0 sacks, 21 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and 20 pressures. He ultimately chose to skip his senior year to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Strengths
- Will be only 21 years old in his NFL rookie season.
- Big-bodied edge rusher with a prototypical frame for his position.
- Long arms give him a natural advantage over opposing offensive tackles and allow him to lock out defenders from his frame.
- Carries his weight very well.
- Showcases ideal hand activity at the point of contact, showing some promise in regards to his ability to string moves together.
- Executes a pretty swim move and has shown some good cross-chop capabilities.
- Quick off the line of scrimmage with a nice first step, especially for his size.
- Rushes at his most efficient off the edge, but he’s capable of kicking inside as a 3-technique or 4i defensive tackle, as well.
- Does a good job of converting speed to power due to his raw strength and his high motor.
- Relentless rusher who plays with a determined demeanor, which is apparent in his hand activity and ever-churning legs.
- Ability to contribute at a prestigious program right out of the gate is encouraging.
- Offers elite range as a backside run defender due to his size, length, and athleticism.
Weaknesses
- Maintains a high center of gravity, affecting his pad level and his balance working through blocks.
- Doesn’t maximize his strength all the time due to a lack of proper weight distribution.
- Ability to set the edge is still a work in progress due to his pads and inconsistent processing speed against the run.
- Flexibility turning the corner on outside speed rushes is just okay.
- Doesn’t always display a refined pass-rushing plan.
- Despite his heavy weight and how well he maintains that weight, he could stand to get a little bit stronger in his anchor.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
There are certainly more polished edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft than Williams, but one could argue that nobody has as high of a ceiling as him.
He has the ideal size and length to project seamlessly as a defensive end in a base 4-3 system. His explosiveness off the line of scrimmage is impressive, and he’s capable of winning as a pass rusher in several ways.
It’s not hard to be enticed by Williams’ long-term outlook, given that he pairs his elite physical attributes with a red-hot motor and a game that’s grown a bit over the last three seasons.
A few top edge rushers have struggled right out of the gates, with the likes of Tyree Wilson, Travon Walker, and Jermaine Johnson all finishing with fewer than four sacks in their rookie years. Williams could be in line for a similar learning curve in Year 1 due to his pass-rushing plan still being a work in progress.
That said, all three of those players were first-round picks and saw improvement in Year 2. Walker finished with 10.0 sacks his sophomore year in the NFL, Johnson made it to the Pro Bowl, and Wilson’s quarterback hurries increased from 24 in Year 1 to 37 in Year 2.
If they’re willing to work Williams into the defensive line rotation over time, whichever NFL team drafts him could see tremendous long-term results. He has the potential to reach double-digit sacks in the pros. There are certainly more polished defenders in this class, and there will likely be more productive rookie defenders in 2025.
Nevertheless, you draft for more than just Year 1, and Williams projects as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for his high ceiling.