PJ Williams OT SMU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #59 SUB-POSITION: Left/Right Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.20 seconds (63%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.6 DOB: 05/04/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #59 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Left/Right Tackle | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.20 seconds (63%*) | |
| Age: 22.6 DOB: 05/04/2004 | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.9 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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77% |
| Run Blocking: |
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73% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#62
Position rank:
#11 (OL)
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| College Games: 47 College Snaps: 2575 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 97/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Blake Fisher - Notre Dame |
|
99% |
| Ajani Cornelius - Oregon |
|
94% |
| Marcus Mbow - Purdue |
|
94% |
Draft Profile: Bio
PJ Williams played defensive line before moving to tackle as a sophomore at Dickinson High School in Texas, where he also played basketball, and he was a unanimous first-team all-district pick and an Under Armour All-American as a senior. Texas A&M landed him as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class.Williams played one game at Texas A&M. He was suspended in October 2022 for violating team rules and arrested in November on a felony marijuana possession charge, then entered a diversion program under which prosecutors agreed not to prosecute if he completed it. He transferred to SMU, started four games at left tackle in 2023, started all 14 games in 2024, mostly at right tackle, and earned third-team All-ACC. As a team captain in 2025, he allowed pressure on very few of his pass-blocking snaps, among the best marks for ACC right tackles and was a second-team All-ACC pick by the AP.
Williams passed on the 2026 draft to return for a fifth season and moved to left tackle. He was named to the preseason All-ACC team with the most votes of any lineman, and he has played seven games for a 6-2 SMU team, allowing three sacks and nine pressures, including a sack and five pressures in the loss at Louisville. SMU's strength coach has called him a long freak.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Experienced starter with more than 25 career starts at SMU
- Second-team All-ACC by the AP at right tackle in 2025
- Rarely pressured in 2025, among the best ACC right tackles in that department
- Has started on both sides of the line, giving him swing value
- Team captain whose coaches praise his length and athleticism
- Preseason All-ACC pick with the most votes of any lineman
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Allowed three sacks in seven games after moving to left tackle this season
- Louisville got a sack and five pressures on him in September
- Arrested in 2022 at Texas A&M on a marijuana possession charge and entered a diversion program
- Lighter frame than most starting NFL tackles, which power rushers can test
Scouting Report: Summary
Williams is an experienced, athletic tackle who has started on both sides of the line for SMU. He was a second-team All-ACC pick by the AP at right tackle in 2025, when he was rarely pressured, and he was a team captain. His length and movement skills give him the tools teams look for in a swing tackle, and SMU's strength coach has called him a long freak. He has more than 25 career starts at SMU.The move to left tackle in 2026 has been a work in progress. He allowed a sack and five pressures in the loss at Louisville and another sack at Syracuse on 31 October, and he has given up three sacks and nine pressures in seven games for a 6-2 team. He has been flagged three times, and his right-tackle film remains the strongest part of his resume. SMU has scored at least 23 points in all eight of its games.
However, his frame is lighter than most NFL tackles, and power rushers can test his anchor. His blind-side tape is limited to one season, and teams will want to see him settle there over the final month. They will also ask about his stint in College Station, where he was suspended and arrested on a marijuana possession charge in 2022 before entering a diversion program. He also played through a neck injury against Miami in 2025, a sign of his toughness.
Overall, Williams is a smart, experienced tackle with the athleticism to play either side, and his right-tackle film is his best. He projects as a third-round tackle with the floor of a swing tackle and the ceiling of a starter on the right side. His length and experience at both tackle spots make him a natural swing tackle for a team that values depth.
How other scouting services rate PJ Williams (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
66.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.