Wesley Williams DE/EDGE Duke |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #97 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/11/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.89 seconds (32%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #97 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 04/11/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.89 seconds (32%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 81.1 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
|
61% |
| Pass Rush: |
|
71% |
| Run Defense: |
|
82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#200
Position rank:
#43 (DL)
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1718 | ||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Davis - Mississippi State |
|
79% |
| Ikenna Enechukwu - Rice |
|
79% |
| Adetokunbo Ogundeji - Notre Dame |
|
79% |
Drafted: ROUND: 4 - Pick Number: 119 (JAX)
Draft Profile: Bio
Duke's defensive end corps has featured some talented players over the past decade, but few contributed to a program turnaround quite like Wesley Williams. A three-star recruit from Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia, Williams committed to the Blue Devils under David Cutcliffe in June 2021 and honored that commitment when Cutcliffe departed before he ever took a snap in Durham.After redshirting in 2022 and earning the team's Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023 with 39 tackles and 6.5 TFL, his 2024 season was his best -- leading Duke with 13.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks while earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. Production dipped slightly in 2025 with 9.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks, though he led the team in quarterback pressures and served as team captain and defensive MVP. He was part of the Duke defense that won the program's first ACC Championship since 1962.
Williams finished with 29.0 TFL, 11.0 sacks and five blocked kicks across 41 career games. He graduated with a degree in public policy in December 2025 and accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. His uncle, Jermaine Belin, played offensive line at Boise State; his cousin Kaleb Oliver played defensive back at Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Run defense improved significantly over three seasons, finishing as a reliable edge anchor.
- Plays with good knee bend and leverage, consistently getting under blockers at the point of attack.
- Active hands and proper hand placement allow him to shed tight ends and H-backs with consistency.
- Motor keeps him in plays when his initial rush fails; secondary-effort pressures are a real weapon.
- Stunt and game awareness showed up on tape throughout 2024 and 2025 ACC play.
- Five career blocked kicks, including two in a single game against Clemson as a freshman.
- Gap integrity in base runs is sound; rarely out of position against designed runs at his alignment.
- Reduced tackle alignment lets him use quickness against guards rather than fighting tackle length.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Arm length well below ideal for the position, limiting his ability to hold the point against NFL tackles.
- Closing speed is average at best; does not consistently run down plays from behind.
- Tackling technique has been a persistent issue; too many missed opportunities in open space.
- Four roughing the passer penalties in 2025 suggest timing and body control problems at the edge.
- Rush plan lacks variety; a patient offensive tackle can sit back and wait for the same move.
- Upfield quickness will not stress NFL starting tackles off the edge on obvious passing downs.
Scouting Report: Summary
Williams fits best as a rotational base-four end who can reduce inside on passing downs. His run defense grades are his calling card, and the 2025 improvement there is real on tape. He plays with patience against the run, reads lateral steps quickly, and his base strength lets him anchor against drive blocks despite carrying less weight than most NFL ends. That physicality at the point of attack is what keeps him on rosters, not the sack sheet.The pass rush is the honest concern. His motor generates volume, and his pressure total in 2025 was a team-high, but most of those came after extended rushes rather than quick wins off the snap. Four roughing the passer penalties last year suggest he knows his first move is not finishing the deal and compensates by ramping up aggression late in the rush. NFL tackles will not give him those second and third chances on a consistent basis. Sliding inside on passing downs is the sensible adjustment, where his cross-chop and lateral quickness can work against guards instead of tackles -- but that comes with its own athletic demands at this level.
His speed testing places him below average for the position, and his arm length falls outside what most teams prefer for a stand-up edge. The special teams value is genuine; five career blocked kicks is not a fluke number, and coaches will notice. The realistic floor here is a practice squad body who earns camp consideration. The ceiling, if the interior pass rush role clicks, is a useful rotational piece in a base-four defense with spot duties in subpackages.
Wesley Williams percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Wesley Williams (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
205.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
51.0
*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.