Chargers First Pick: Mike Williams, WR Clemson

[Fleet]

[Bolt-O]

If you cannot be happy for the football team owned by Dean Spanos, be happy for San Diegan Philip Rivers and for what he received in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Rivers can throw the ball somewhere in the Carson area code (310) this fall and there’s a fair chance that new Chargers receiver Mike Williams will catch it.

Williams is big -- 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds — and plays big, often at timely moments.

He hails from the Deep South, where college football is a man’s game.

The South Carolinian caught 177 passes for 2,727 yards (15.4) in 42 games, amassing 21 touchdowns for mighty Clemson.

“He’s a man,” a veteran NFL player said of the 22-year-old last season.

In the national championship game three months ago, Williams ripped Alabama for eight catches worth 94 yards and a touchdown.

Rivers is a lot more accurate than college quarterbacks, including Williams’ former teammate Deshaun Watson, whom the Houston Texans selected 12th overall on Thursday night.

One of Rivers’ passing fancies is throwing to tall receivers.

Williams joins a good-sized group of pass-catchers that includes speedster Tyrell Williams (6-31/2), shifty Keenan Allen (6-2), all-time great Antonio Gates (6-4), Hunter Henry (6-5) and Dontrelle Inman (6-3).




It is a stretch to compare Williams with tall NFL standouts such as A.J. Green of the Bengals and Julio Jones of the Falcons.

He is less speedy, less elusive and less springy than those two Pro Bowl regulars, although his knack for timing his jumps and lunges is similar.

One reason he’s good at catching contested passes is he gets a lot of practice.

He’s less apt to uncover than new teammates Allen and Tyrell Williams.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, he refused to run agility drills, raising scouts’ speculation that his ability to get in and out of breaks isn’t a moneymaker, per Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Williams, leading Clemson in catches (98), yards (1,361) and receiving TDs (11), rebounded last year from a season-ending neck fracture in the 2015 opener, when he rammed the goal post on a touchdown catch.

“He's a team guy and has a lot of Charger traits," said new head coach Anthony Lynn.

The recent success of another Clemson pass-snatcher with so-so speed, DeAndre Hopkins of the Texans, bodes well for Williams. (And Texas quarterbacks were notches below Rivers.)

The players the Chargers passed on Thursday night included Ohio State free safety Malik Hooker, who went 15th to the Indianapolis Colts and was paired with the Bolts in the majority of mock drafts.

This draft class is deep in safety prospects, although none of them projects as the ball-hawking center fielder of Hooker’s caliber.

The Chargers apparently tried to get the Carolina Panthers to trade up to seven. Carolina didn’t bite, taking Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey eighth.

AFC West

Rivers wasn’t the only fortunate quarterback within the AFC West precinct.

Landing with the Kansas City Chiefs, who traded up 17 spots to take him 10th, Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II went to an ideal situation.

The raw Mahomes may not be needed before 2019, allowing him to learn at a measured pace from coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith, the alum of La Mesa’s Helix High.

Smith, who will be 33 next month, has prospered in Reid’s West Coast offense that also nurtured, with Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb.

One of the NFL’s smarter players, Smith is as disciplined at football as Mahomes is not.

Mahomes was a reckless performer for Texas Tech, but also made creative plays beyond Smith’s ability by drawing upon his powerful arm and fast feet.

Reid was with the Green Bay Packers when his friend and mentor Mike Holmgren tamed the wild bronco that was Brett Favre.

The odds are probably 50-50, at best, that Mahomes pans out. But, he went to the right place.

Former Chargers coach Mike McCoy received an assist from his Broncos boss, John Elway. The selection, at No. 20, was an offensive tackle, light-footed but erratic Garret Boles. Boles and McCoy are Utah alums.

Bad fit

Unlike any other NFL draft since 1961, the commissioner said “Los Angeles Chargers” when introducing the pick.

When a football fan Tweeted that it will take time to get used to saying Los Angeles Chargers, ex-Bolts fullback Jacob Hester didn’t play ball. His Tweet:

“It might take you a bit, but I'll never get used to it. #SDAllDayEveryday.”

Tom.Krasovic@SDUnionTribune.com; Twitter: SDUTKrasovic

[Fleet]

MW said his best comparison or who he molds him game after is Randy Moss.

[Millionaire Wussy]

MW said his best comparison or who he molds him game after is Randy Moss.

Sweet.

The description of him breaking his neck is scary. OMG. Amazing he came back as well as he did.

[chargerkdb]

Sweet.

The description of him breaking his neck is scary. OMG. Amazing he came back as well as he did.

If there's no neurological involvement it's just another bone. I'm in a neck brace now. C4-7 fused.

[Millionaire Wussy]

If there's no neurological involvement it's just another bone. I'm in a neck brace now. C4-7 fused.

Good to know. Are you in pain?

[Fleet]

Ran a 4.49 at the Chargers private workout.

[Formula 21]

Watching NFLN draft replay (because I'm pathetic) and they said the Chargers had a secret workout with Williams on the Clemson campus on Thursday(?) that no one found out about.

[Gwynning_Spirit]

NFL draft: Round 1 fantasy reaction
Mike Clay ESPN Writer

No. 7: WR Mike Williams to Los Angeles Chargers
Rookie-season projection: 57 receptions, 696 yards, 5 TDs

[Fleet]

This may be Tryell's last year. He will want to get paid. This pick my have been forward thinking a little bit. Also Tyrell may end up getting a big enough contract to maybe net us a comp pick.

Edit - Hes a RFA. Thats good. We may be able to get a pick for him. 2nd round tender? Id rather he stay and we cut Benjamin. But this most likely will be Inmans last year.

[WindsorUK]

For a team with so many holes, with a new HC who prefers a dominate run game, taking a WR makes no sense.
I'm glad most of you guys are excited about it but I hate the pick.
I just think MW will be a non factor when 1) we're trying to establish the run, 2) when PR is running for his life, 3) when PR is on his backside, or 4) our D can't make a play to get off the field.
At least TT didn't trade a number picks to move up to get him.......

[Fleet]

I think many of us are expecting him to address the OL in day 2. And we just singed a LT. We could be potentially losing 2 or 3 WRs next year. And this is a tough offense to grasp for WRs. Allen is fragile. Feels right to me. We needed to draft a WR this year. I was a little surprised we went after the top tier. But if we protect Rivers we are looking at a Falcons type scenario. Maybe better WR core.