Buffalo Bills Scouting Report: CB Joshua Williams

The Buffalo Bills seem to be in a good spot at this point in the offseason. However, there are still some needs to be filled. With Miami’s recent acquisition of Tyreek Hill, CB is even more pressing a need for the Bills. Come draft time, I think that Beane and McDermott may double-dip at this position, and one of them should be Joshua Williams.

Measurements

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 195 lbs

Wingspan: 78 1/8”

Strengths

+ Height & Wingspan: Outside of football, this may be seen as an insult, but Williams is gangly as hell. His torse to limb ratio is off the charts, but it works for him as a CB. Those long arms are incredible at breaking up a pass and all he literally has to do is stretch up, it’s so effortless. His long legs mean long strides and speed. He had a 40 time of 4.53. That’s fast enough.

+ Coverage Instincts: Williams has pretty great instincts and uses it to track the ball seamlessly. He can follow the ball in the QB’s hands and read where it’s going. Meaning he doesn’t have to keep looking over his shoulder and instead can keep with his receiver. And it shows. He finished his career at Fayetteville State with 81 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 21 pass breakups, and five interceptions.

+ Sleek Footwork: He also has some of the prettiest back-peddling I’ve witnessed. I’ve never seen someone run backwards with the speed he has and still be able to keep balanced. That kind of footwork is sorely missed in the secondary, especially with Tre likely to be out until at least November.

Weaknesses

– Lesser Competition: Playing at a D2 school means that Williams was a little short on competition. This can affect his ability to play at an elite level, so it may take him longer to adjust to the NFL or even replicate his success.

– Backs Off Early: Williams is great back in the field, but he doesn’t stay at the line of scrimmage for long. He drops back far too quickly, which is understandable given his talent. But in order to keep up with the NFL, he needs to stay a little longer after the snap and just push.

So, why does he belong on the Buffalo Bills?

Joshua Williams provides excellent depth at CB that the Bills just do not have. After White’s injury, it was the perfect opportunity for the rest of that position to step up. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. They played well enough, but no one made up for White. Williams can get there. He may not be a day one starter, but he can definitely fill in when needed.

He’d be a great addition that can be coached into a Tre White mini-me. Or close enough because Tre Day is a unicorn.