John Williams OT Cincinnati | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
John Williams OT Cincinnati
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 02/15/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SUB-POSITION: Left Tackle | |
Last Updated: 02/15/2025 | |
Draft Year: 2025 | |
40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*) | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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Overall Rating: | 81.9 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
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76% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
Pass Blocking: |
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80% |
Run Blocking: |
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62% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Top 5
Overall Rank:
#1
Position rank:
#1
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College Games: 38 College Snaps: 1813 | ||
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Draft Profile: Bio
From the industrial suburbs of Chicago to the precise world of aerospace engineering, John Williams has always approached his craft with calculated efficiency. The Bolingbrook native emerged from Illinois' prep ranks as an unheralded three-star prospect, choosing Cincinnati over multiple Power 5 suitors. That decision proved prophetic as Williams evolved into a cornerstone of the Bearcats' historic CFP run in 2021 before cementing himself as one of the Big 12's premier pass protectors.Williams' senior campaign showcased his development into an elite pass-blocking technician, surrendering just a single QB hit across 823 snaps while earning an 85.2 PFF grade that ranked fourth among Big 12 tackles. His consistent presence at left tackle - starting 24 straight games to close his career - provided stability for an offense that helped running back Corey Kiner notch back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
The aerospace engineering major brought the same analytical precision to the field that he applies to fluid dynamics, starting 27 games over his career while appearing in 52 total contests. His cerebral approach and technical refinement helped Cincinnati's offense rank sixth in the Big 12 in total yards (420.6) during their inaugural Power 5 campaign.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Reliable anchor in pass protection with a naturally wide base - shows good ability to absorb power rushers who try to bull through his frame
- Effective kick-slide tempo matches rushers' speed from various alignments, demonstrating solid understanding of depth and angles in pass sets
- Shows some nasty when jump-setting, catching rushers off guard with aggressive initial contact that can disrupt their timing
- Above-average awareness against stunts and blitzes - consistently identifies and works with guards to maintain pocket integrity
- Thick upper frame translates to solid punch power when he lands clean, showing ability to stun rushers and reset the line of scrimmage
- Good power on down blocks with enough juice to create movement, particularly when working double teams with his guard
- Quick to recognize and shut down B-gap pressure, showing natural feel for working in tandem with interior linemen
- Durable performer who started 24 straight games, displaying steady technical growth throughout his college career
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Significant hip tightness severely limits recovery ability against bendy edge rushers - could be a fatal flaw against NFL speed
- Consistently late hands allow defenders into his frame - needs complete retooling of hand timing to survive against pro rushers
- High pad level is a major concern, especially given his average power - gets pushed around when he loses leverage battles
- Shows minimal feel for space and angles at the second level - looks lost when asked to climb and engage linebackers
- Concerning athletic limitations suggest a likely move inside, where his anchor and awareness could better mask mobility issues
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape shows a player caught between two positions - a tackle whose technical prowess can't quite mask his athletic limitations, and a guard who hasn't yet developed the natural leverage needed to thrive inside. What jumps off the film is how Williams consistently finds ways to compensate for his limitations, particularly in pass protection where his cerebral approach and calculated sets regularly win the chess match against more gifted rushers.Watching his matchup against Arizona State's edge rushers revealed both his ceiling and his floor. When able to establish his anchor and work in confined spaces, Williams showed legitimate NFL-caliber play. But those same reps exposed his inability to recover once beaten - his hips lock up, his feet stop moving, and even his impressive upper body strength can't bail him out. The more tape you watch, the more obvious it becomes that his future lies at guard, where his processing speed and natural power can shine without exposing his lateral mobility issues.
Williams has starter-caliber traits that will get him drafted in the middle rounds, but his NFL impact depends entirely on landing with a coaching staff willing to commit to his transition inside. His pass protection fundamentals and intelligence will accelerate the position switch, though he'll need at least a year of development to reprogram his leverage points and hand placement for interior work. The flashes are there - particularly in his ability to absorb power and control his gap - but he's a developmental prospect who needs time to reach his potential as a future starting guard.
How other scouting services rate John Williams (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
246.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
56.0
*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.