Alabama DT Quinnen Williams shouldn’t be available, but it just might happen

Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams should not fall out of the first five picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. It could probably be argued that he shouldn’t even fall out of the top three picks in the draft.

And yet it remains in the realm of possibility that the player widely regarded as the top defender -- and player -- in the 2019 NFL Draft could actually fall to the New York Giants at sixth overall. It isn’t likely, but if the draft happens to break the right way, it is potentially possible that Dave Gettleman’s wildest dreams could come true.

That would be fantastic news for a general manager who loves to draft interior defensive linemen and a defense that can use more talent at every level. And that is why the Giants used their final Top 30 visit to bring Williams in for a private visit.

It’s unlikely that Quinnen Williams becomes a Giant, but if it is possible we need to account for that possibility and do our own due diligence.

Measurables

Pros

• Excellent first step.
• Plays with good leverage and surprising power for a smaller tackle.
• Keeps his pad level down and gets under blockers’ pads.
• Excellent hand usage to fight through waves of blockers.
• Can play all along the defensive front, from 0 to 5-technique.
• Good agility to execute stunts and twists.

Cons

• Only has one year of production.

Prospect Video

What They’re Saying

“One of the easiest evaluations you’ll ever see, Quinnen Williams was the most dominant defensive player in all of college football last season, despite being just a redshirt sophomore and a one-year starter. His power, quickness, rush plan and hand usage are all elite, but the scary part is that he still has some room to improve in his counters and in his mental processing. He can play anywhere on the interior defensive line and should be a multi-All Pro player in the NFL.”

- Jon Ledyard (The Draft Network - Scouting Report)

Does He Fit The Giants?

Yes.

Quinnen Williams is another one of those prospects who has a fit in any competent defensive scheme. He is a very good athlete with polished technique and the ability to be a difference maker in both the run and pass games. Williams played all over the Alabama front and should be a natural fit as a 3-technique in four-man fronts or a defensive end in 3-man fronts. Considering just about every NFL defense runs both of those fronts at some point in a game, Williams should only have to come off the field for rest.

If there are any shortcomings to Williams as a prospect it is that he only has one year of production after having to wait his turn behind defensive tackles who are currently playing in the NFL. That isn’t a negative per se, but the lack of a track record and relatively limited tape does leave some questions with how he will deal with bigger or more athletic interior blockers, as well as offensive adjustments to his presence.

But the tape we do have is absolutely dominant, so those questions are muted.

Williams shouldn’t fall to the Giants at sixth overall. In a sane process, he would be one of the first three or four players drafted and shouldn’t even have to wait that long. However, with the intrigue surrounding the quarterback position and the disparity in value between defensive tackle and EDGE, it is within the realm of possibility that the best defensive player in the draft could fall to the Giants.