Jayden
Williams.
Jayden
Williams.
Ole Miss· 6'5"· 307 lb· 5.04s 40
R7 · #217 · Arizona Cardinals"A swing-tackle profile in the Hakeem Adeniji mold: enough length, grip strength and two-sided starting experience to hold a backup job, without the bend to survive as a full-time edge protector."Pre-draft read
A tackle with a wide base and high torso, winning with punch and grip. His initial strike is stiff, landing both hands inside the chest, neutralizing defenders. Against bull rushes, he anchors effectively by sinking hips, transforming a direct push into a moved pocket. In the run game, his utility exceeds his overall stiffness: backside cuts and perimeter pulls are executed with a good first step and correct angles.
However, problems arise with changes of direction, as his upright posture limits hip mobility for redirects. When initial contact misses, recovery is slow. A notable flaw is timing, as he occasionally responds late to the snap, losing the rep prematurely. Ole Miss utilized him on both sides, making him a credible swing tackle.
The ideal system for Jayden Williams is a run-heavy attacking inside zone or gap scheme that emphasizes power at the point of attack and short, precise sets rather than wide-ranging movement.
He projects as a Year 1 swing tackle with the ceiling to become a solid starting right tackle who excels in a power-run heavy scheme.
He would be a poor fit in a wide-zone or vertical passing offense that commonly asks tackles to reach-block or execute extensive pass sets against speed rushers.
Jayden Williams's scheme fit centers on his powerful punch and anchor, making him suitable for roles where he can engage directly and use his strength, rather than relying on lateral agility or recovery speed.
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Jayden Williams projects as a reserve tackle with the potential to develop into an emergent starter, provided his physical health holds and he refines his technique, particularly his knee bend. His NFL-caliber power and grip are undeniable, but his movement efficiency is a clear limitation.
Williams' collegiate career was marked by significant fluctuations: he started full-time as a redshirt freshman in 2022, lost his starting role in 2023, missed most of 2024 due to a knee injury, and then solidified his position as the starting right tackle in 2025. This uneven résumé, rather than a lack of inherent talent, defines his evaluation. He amassed 34 career starts split across both tackle positions.
Evaluators flagged his pad level and recovery ability as primary concerns, creating a trade-off between his raw strength and movement limitations. The consensus view positioned him as a late-round selection or a priority undrafted free agent. He was ultimately drafted by Arizona in the seventh round.
- 01
Powerful punch and sustained grip
initiates contact with a stiff strike, securing blocks inside the chest and maintaining them through the whistle.
- 02
Effective anchor against power rushes
absorbs bull rushes by sinking his hips, preventing direct pocket collapses and maintaining a viable pocket.
- 03
Surprising mobility on run blocks
demonstrates a good first step on backside cuts and perimeter pulls, exhibiting better movement than anticipated for his frame.
- 04
Versatility with two-sided experience
started 19 games at left tackle and 15 at right tackle over his college career, offering positional flexibility.
- 05
Ideal arm length for an NFL tackle
possesses 33½-inch arms and a 6'9⅞" wingspan, meeting the physical requirements for the position.
- 01
Persistent high pad level
plays with an upright posture due to his tall build, frequently losing the leverage battle by playing above the waist.
- 02
Limited redirect and recovery ability
exhibits stiffness in movement and struggles to respond effectively to counter moves once he commits to an initial block.
- 03
Lapses in snap timing and concentration
occasionally reacts late to the snap, leading to lost reps and avoidable penalties that disrupt rhythm.
- 04
Medical history concerns
missed a significant portion of the 2024 season due to a knee injury, raising questions about long-term durability and impact.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 5.04sp50
- Vertical
- 29.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 107inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.65sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.80sp50
- Bench
- 21repp50
| Yr | Team | G |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ole Miss | 0 |
| 2022 | Ole Miss | 13 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 13 |
| 2024 | Ole Miss | 6 |
| 2025 | Ole Miss | 15 |
| Career | — | 47 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Honors
- Freshman All-American (2022)
- Started thirteen games as a redshirt freshman (2022)
- Started all fifteen games of the 2025 season at right tackle
- Thirty-four career starts split across both sides
A backup who covers both tackle spots and starts a handful of games a year without hurting the offense.
A developmental college tackle who settles as a swing lineman with real spot-start value.
Punch and anchor without the feet to survive NFL speed, and the career stays on the practice squad.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Recruited out of Conway, Arkansas in the 2021 class and redshirted immediately, Williams won the left tackle job in 2022 and was named a Freshman All-American after starting all thirteen games.
2023 was a step back: he lost the job to Victor Curne and started again only in the Peach Bowl. The 2024 knee injury held him to six games and four starts, and 2025 was the rebuild year, with fifteen starts at right tackle for an offense that, in CFBD terms, regressed as a trench unit: Ole Miss fell from 43rd to 82nd nationally in line yards (3.18 to 2.87) and its stuff rate climbed from 16.6 to 20.3 percent, which frames his senior season inside a front that lost collective push.
Arizona took him in the seventh round as a swing-tackle project with experience on both sides.