The general consensus seems to agree that the 49ers are loaded and set at the tight end position. However, it's always good to evaluate players that could eventually be the enemy.
There are several teams that could be evaluating top talent in tight ends, and a few of them could even be within the 49ers division. The Cardinals, Rams, and Seahawks all could stand to get some depth added at the position if the price is right.
There will be a few tight ends in this rookie class that make an immediate impact on the league if we have football for 2011.
One of them happens to be the tight end from Arkansas, and one of Ryan Mallett's favorite target's while there, D.J. Williams.
With that, let's have a look...
The video here is from Williams' junior season where he really stepped up as one of the elite tight ends in college football. It was here that Williams started to be a lot more sure-handed. From his junior season and on, Williams has been working diligently on chiseling out the rest of his game. His run-blocking may not be exactly where it should be, but there are several tight ends in the league that aren't forced to do it that much. However, just because a player is not the best at a certain facet of the game at the next level doesn't negate their chances to be taught and good at it at the next level. Afterall, players don't get countless hours of coaching in college as they do in the pro's.
Here are Williams' stats:
Stats Overview
Receiving
Rushing
Fumbles
YEAR
REC
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
FUM
LST
2007
5
94
18.8
28
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2008
58
699
12.1
76
3
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2009
32
411
12.8
69
3
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2010
54
627
11.6
46
4
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2010 Regular Season Game Log
Receiving
Rushing
Fumbles
DATE
OPP
RESULT
REC
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
FUM
LST
9/4
Tennessee Tech
W 44-3
5
68
13.6
19
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
9/11
@Louisiana-Monroe
W 31-7
3
44
14.7
17
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
9/18
@Georgia
W 31-24
6
61
10.2
18
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
9/25
Alabama
L 24-20
5
63
12.6
18
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
10/9
@Texas A&M
W 24-17
3
23
7.7
11
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
10/16
@Auburn
L 65-43
4
20
5.0
6
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
10/23
Mississippi
W 38-24
2
55
27.5
46
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
10/30
Vanderbilt
W 49-14
4
32
8.0
12
1
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
11/6
@South Carolina
W 41-20
5
67
13.4
19
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
11/13
UTEP
W 58-21
5
58
11.6
32
2
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
11/20
@Mississippi State
W 38-31
4
70
17.5
32
1
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
11/27
LSU
W 31-23
3
28
9.3
15
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2010 Postseason Game Log
Receiving
Rushing
Fumbles
BOWL
OPP
RESULT
REC
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
FUM
LST
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
Ohio State
L 31-26
5
38
7.6
18
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
Summary: I think that Williams has all the making to be a stud tight end and a frequently used option in the pass game at the next level. At the end of the day, it seems as though Williams will be drafted relatively high. It would really shock me to see him picked anywhere later than the 3rd round. But in looking at the big picture, I believe that Williams has the most potential out of any of the other options at tight end this year. He has the highest ceiling and one day soon, it could be possible that we see him as an NFL Pro Bowler.
PREDICTION: 2nd - 3rd Round.