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Larry Donnell was an up and down presence fat tight end or the New York Giants last year. Should the Giants look to upgrade the position, Maxx Williams, the consensus best tight end in the draft is a very good choice. He's strictly a move tight end that can expose mismatches on the field and destroy teams up the seam.
What are some of his strengths? His weaknesses? Let's take a closer look:
Pros
- Plus acceleration to get up to top speed quickly
- Intelligent player that can find soft zones in coverage
- Very good body control and catch radius/can make the contested catch
- Can stalk block well
Cons
- Athleticism is a concern
- Can seal block, but often gets driven off the ball as an in-line player
- Route running is not sharp/needs work
Does He Fit With The Giants?
Depends on what you think of Donnell. They are similar players. Williams has similar excellent body control and the ability to expose coverages down the seam. They both struggle as in-line blockers (but in fairness, they should never be used in that regard in the first place). They both need to work on routes. I'd argue that Williams is a slightly quicker rich man's version of our current tight end.
Prospect Video
Big Board Rankings
Big Blue View - 61
Mocking The Draft - 28
CBS Sports - 35
Draft Tek - 23
Final Thoughts
I think Williams is a terrific player. I'm not buying a top 15 rating for him though. Too many holes in his game, but it's seriously impressive with the way he can get open, have soft hands, and create after the catch. He's the draft's top true tight end and that will likely push him into the first round. I've personally got an end of round 1 to top of round 2 rating on him. He'll definitely be successful as move player, he just needs to get stronger.