NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams is visiting the Detroit Lions on Tuesday.
All indications are that the Lions are in the market for a longterm starting outside cornerback and Day 2 of the NFL Draft is flush with options. There could easily be a dozen or more cornerbacks selected in the first 100 picks and Williams appears to firmly be in the mix.
If Rashan Melvin (6-2, 192) and Marcus Cooper (6-2, 193) are any indications of the physical traits the Lions are targeting, Williams fits right in and may actually exceed expectations.
At nearly 6-4, 211-pounds and a Full QIB qualifier, Williams’ combination of height, length, and athleticism have generated potential first-round attention. While the upside is evident, he is still developing his technique and may not be ready to start immediately, which is why a Day 2 selection seems more realistic.
A press corner with two years starting experience in the SEC, Williams has the mental makeup to challenge NFL level receivers, a nose for the ball, the aggressive nature to physically punish smaller receivers and the understanding of his natural skills to use them in his favor.
Williams has all the intangibles Coach Matt Patricia looks for in an outside corner and with Melvin and Cooper in the fold as bridge players on one-year contracts, the Lions could snag Williams at pick 43 and not feel the need to rush his development. That being said, he’s destined to be a starter in the NFL, it’s more about when rather than if.
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