The Green Bay Packers didn’t waste any time addressing their need at safety in the NFL Draft. After selecting Javon Bullard in the second round to pair with free agent acquisition Xavier McKinney, they doubled down at the position and traded up in the fourth round to take former Oregon safety Evan Williams.
The 22-year-old safety led the Ducks in tackles last season with 82, while also recording 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. Before his one season at Oregon, however, Williams was a three-year starter at Fresno State, where he twice earned All-Mountain West honors, despite missing four games in 2022 with a knee injury.
With 45 collegiate starts under his belt and captain experience, Williams brings leadership and versatility to the Packers’ secondary. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound safety is a good athlete (8.20 RAS) who can play a variety of roles on defense. He has experience playing post, box, or nickel. He can even be an effective sub linebacker and special teams ace.
Along with fifth-round pick Kitan Oladapo and second-year man Anthony Johnson, Williams provides quality depth behind Bullard and McKinney. However, it’s a talented enough group that Jeff Haffley may find ways to get more than just two of them on the field at any given time.
Williams could be a real find for the Packers in the middle rounds of the draft. After watching seven of his games at Oregon (Colorado, USC, Washington, Oregon St, Utah, Washington St, Stanford) and six of his Fresno State games (UCLA, Oregon, Boise St, Oregon St, Wyoming, San Diego St), here are my observations of the strengths and weaknesses of Williams’ game as he begins his career with the Packers.
Traits to Love and What Evan Williams Brings to the Packers
1) Aggressive Downhill Defender — There is a lot to like about how Williams plays the game, but the first thing that really jumps out on tape is how he screams downhill and plays physical. This first clip comes from Williams’ junior season at Fresno State. For the Bulldogs he wore No. 32, and on this play he lines up 12 yards off the line of scrimmage. It’s 3rd-and-short, and once Williams sees the play is a run, he accelerates downhill and collides with the tailback in the hole, stopping him just shy of the first down.
It’s easy to love the assertiveness Williams plays with. He is not afraid to lower his shoulder and deliver a hit. On this play, he reads the play perfectly and closes on the ball carrier to make the stop.
This ability to explode downhill also extends to outside runs. This next clip comes from Williams’ final season at Fresno State. The Beavers run a jet sweep, and like the previous clip, Williams begins the play about 12 yards off the line of scrimmage. However, watch how quickly he closes ground and accelerates downhill to make the tackle.
Not only does this play showcase Williams’ explosive athleticism, but it also shows his ability to make tackles in space, which is a very important skill for a safety at the next level.
This next clip comes from the same Oregon State game. Here is an example of how Williams’ ability to quickly accelerate downhill makes him a menace to receivers over the middle of the field. Williams plays well against the pass when dropping in zone coverage and keeping the action in front of him. This allows him to close in on receivers and make plays on the ball. On this play, Williams is lined up as the boundary safety, and he does a great job reading the quarterback’s eyes and closing in on the receiver to pop the ball loose.
This is when Williams is at his best as a pass defender. When the plays are kept in front of him, as opposed to turning and running in man coverage, Williams is able to use his quick processing skills and acceleration to read and react to the ball.
Here is another example of this from Williams’ Oregon season. He is lined up closer to the line of scrimmage and manned over the slot. Once the receiver comes out of his break, Williams stops his backpedal, plants, and accelerates downhill to make the tackle.
Williams is a physical player, and his ability to close ground and lay a big hit will be a welcomed sight to the Packers’ defense. They could use more aggressive tone-setters on that side of the ball, and adding players like Williams, Bullard, and Edgerrin Cooper certainly helps change the culture.
2) Fills Well Against Run — Williams is a very active run defender. He does a great job processing run progressions, and he’s fearless in sticking his nose in the action. This makes him an effective box safety on early downs. This next clip is from the Oregon State game, and Williams is lined up as a second-level defender, splitting the difference between the tight end and slot receiver near the top of the screen. Once the ball is snapped, Williams shuffles laterally with the flow of the play, and he does a nice job reading the run to fill in as a backside defender.
Despite playing with a club on his right hand, Williams makes a great tackle as he folds in on the play. Williams can line up in the box and make stops between the tackles, and he can come off the edge and be disruptive as a run defender.
On this next play from the Utah game, Williams creeps up in the box, sees the right side of the offensive line down block after the snap, and accelerates upfield to beat the pulling linemen to the line of scrimmage. This allows Williams to get into the backfield and bring the tailback down for a loss.
This is a great read by Williams to come off the edge and beat the counter pullers to make the stop. How quickly he diagnoses and reacts to run plays is what makes him such a good box safety.
However, Williams also does a tremendous job filling the alley lined up as a deep safety. This next clip is from Williams’ junior season against Boise State. Before the snap, he’s lined up ten yards off the ball, but once he sees the run, Williams works downhill to fill the alley and tackle the running back.
It’s easy to see why Williams was his team’s leading tackler for two of his five seasons in college. He will certainly help boost the Packers’ run defense. He diagnoses plays well, and he’s physical when engaging with ball carriers.
3) Effective Blitzer — A nice bonus to Williams’ game is his ability to create pressure as a blitzer. This could allow Hafley to get creative with his pass rush. Even if Williams doesn’t start at safety, he could still play dime or nickel linebacker in certain packages and blitz on third downs.
On this play from the Colorado game, Williams blitzes off the edge and sacks the quarterback. What’s impressive about the play is he starts lined up as a deep safety, but he comes downhill in a flurry, tossing the tailback aside to make the play.
This kind of play is a drive killer for an offense. And while Williams wasn’t involved in very many turnover plays in college, his ability to get after the quarterback as a blitzer is a special attribute for a defensive back.
On this next play from the Stanford game, Williams is lined up in the box as a dime linebacker. It’s third down, and Williams comes on an A-gap blitz. He accelerates through the hole so fast that he sacks the quarterback before the quarterback can even step into his throw.
Williams’ speed to get home is what makes the play happen so successfully. The quarterback is looking to the slot receiver to his left, who comes open over the middle, but fortunately for the defense, Williams tackles the quarterback before the quarterback can start his throwing motion.
4) Good Football Awareness — Williams is clearly a very intelligent football player. On this play against Wyoming, Williams is lined up as the deep safety to the offense’s right. He doesn’t bite on the play action and picks up the tight end in coverage, who runs down the seam on a go route. However, Williams does a great job keeping his eyes on the quarterback as he moves to guard the tight end. This allows him to anticipate the quarterback’s throw and jump the pass for the interception.
Williams makes another great heads-up play in coverage in the Boise State game. It’s 3rd-and-3, and Williams is covering the slot near the boundary. Based on his pass drop, it is evident he is anticipating a short route. The moment the receiver breaks towards the sideline on the quick out and the quarterback raises his arm to pass, Williams breaks on the pass to swat it away.
Williams shows great football instincts both against the run and pass. He plays best when facing forward with the action in front of him. This next play is one of the more impressive ones from his film.
The Ducks are playing Washington State, and it’s 4th-and-1 in the red zone. Williams is lined up in the box a few yards off the ball to the offense’s right. He does a great job on this play not falling for the play fake. His initial steps are downhill, but he quickly redirects once he sees the boot action from the quarterback. As the quarterback rolls right and looks to throw downfield, Williams does a great job closing ground and tackling the quarterback to force a loss of downs.
Williams’ ability to read and react to plays is one of the many strengths to his game, and this will translate well to the NFL. It’s difficult to keep smart, tough players on the bench. Williams should push for a role on the defense this season.
5) Reliable Cleanup Defender — The final positive attribute to highlight about Willilams’ game is his reliability as a cleanup defender. This is important for a safety. Frequently on tape, Williams rallies to the ball and makes the stop as a last-line defender. He is a good pursuit player, which makes him effective when roaming the middle of the field.
On this play from the Washington game, Williams runs down the ball carrier from the backside of the play. The tailback still gets the first down, but the gain could have been a lot more if it wasn’t for Williams’ pursuit.
This next example comes from the Oregon State game from the 2022 season. Luke Musgrave, ironically enough, catches a pass in the flat after a Fresno State defender bites on the play action and breaks his coverage. Williams is playing in the deep middle of the field, but once he sees the reception he comes screaming downhill to make the tackle. Again, this play gains the first down, but because of Williams’ effort, it is a minimal gain.
A similar effort is seen here on this next play from the Boise State game. While it is a great play by the Broncos’ offense, what should also be highlighted here is Williams’ impressive pursuit to run down the ball carrier and make a touchdown-saving tackle. The tailback catches the ball on a screen pass. Initially, Williams takes a poor angle coming from the opposite side of the field. However, he quickly redirects and runs the ball carrier down just short of the goal line.
Williams’ physical playing style, football smarts, and high motor make him an easy player to like on the football field. While his game has some downsides, the good far outweighs the negative.
Areas of Improvement for the Next Level
1) More Consistent Tackling — There is plenty to like about Williams’ game. However, one area that really needs improvement is his consistency as a tackler. There are plenty of examples on tape where Williams makes the perfect form tackle in space or lights up a running back with a big hit. However, there are also frequent missed attempts that can be concerning.
At times, Williams shows poor tackling technique. While this may be the downside of his aggressive downhill playing style, the hope is that it is something that is cleaned up going into the next level. For example, on this play from the Washington game, Williams doesn’t break down well in space when approaching the tailback. He then leaves his feet and lunges at the ball carrier, causing him to whiff on the tackle attempt.
If Williams adjusted his angle slightly and crashed downhill under a little more control, he would have made the play. There are several examples like this in Williams’ film. He struggles a little with sudden change of direction when facing an elusive ball carrier in space.
On this next play from the UCLA game, something similar happens. Granted, this is from Williams’ junior season, so some growth has occurred since this point. However, it is still an example of Williams getting too eager in pursuit and sacrificing technique. Instead of breaking down and making the tackle with controlled footwork, Williams dips his head and dives at the scrambling quarterback, completely missing the tackle.
It is still easy to appreciate Williams’ play speed in both of these plays, but while arriving with violence is admirable, it is also good to arrive under control so a missed tackle doesn’t happen.
2) Play More Disciplined — Continuing in this vein, Williams needs to play with a little more discipline. While he’s a smart, aggressive player, at times his hair-on-fire playing style can get the best of him. There are times when he’s in coverage that he jumps on underneath routes but gives up a pass downfield.
On this play from the USC game, Williams is lined up on the left hash as the boundary safety. Once the ball is snapped he moves downfield to cover the tailback in the flat, but then he quickly realizes his mistake as the receiver runs a corner route past him.
It’s hard to say if this breakdown in coverage was from miscommunication or if it was Williams’ responsibility. However, it seems he bites on the underneath routes, giving up a big pass, which is a cardinal sin as a safety.
Something similar happens on this play from the Utah game. Williams sees the slot receiver motion across the formation and he runs downhill at the snap. It is hard to tell, for sure, because we don’t know the defensive call, but based on the other players in the secondary, it looks like the defense is in a zone look. However, Williams abandons his area to come downhill to make a stop, realizing too late that the motioning receiver is going out for a wheel route.
It is possible Williams was running a delayed blitz, but based on his late redirection, it seems this was more of a misread on his part as he got too aggressive coming downhill, making that area of the field susceptible to the pass.
We already spent plenty of time on Williams’ need to clean up his tackling, but playing more discipline is an extension of that. In this next play from the USC game, Williams does a great job pursuing the quarterback, who flushes out of the pocket and scrambles for the first down. Williams quickly covers ground, but he goes for the knockout blow and whiffs on the tackle.
The good part here is that, despite missing the tackle, Williams forces the quarterback to go down and fall short of the first down. Overall, it is still a positive play for the young safety, even though it would be better for him to arrive under control to make the tackle.
3) Playing Ball in the Air — Williams is very solid in many aspects of the safety position. However, one glaring issue is his lack of plays on the ball in coverage. In five seasons in college, he only recorded four interceptions. Two of them came on tipped passes and the other two came on playing midfield zone where he read the quarterback’s eyes and broke on the pass. A similar story can be told with his pass breakups. This says that he plays best in zone coverage facing the quarterback. However, he doesn’t have a lot of examples of playing the ball in the air downfield or breaking up a pass in man coverage.
On this play from the Washington game, Williams is manned up against a receiver at the top of the screen. The wideout runs down the sideline and the quarterback throws a back shoulder pass. However, Williams does a poor job reading the receiver and turning to play the ball. Williams should read the receiver’s eyes and turn and play the ball once he sees the receiver react to make the catch. Instead, Williams makes contact with the receiver with his back turned to the ball, which leads to him getting flagged for pass interference.
Later in the Washington game, a similar issue occurs. The Huskies are driving downfield with only two minutes left, and they throw a deep go route to Ja’Lynn Polk to get them in the red zone and set up the go-ahead touchdown. Williams is in a shell coverage over the top. He reads the route well and is in place to make a play on the ball. However, he doesn’t do a great job tracking the ball in the air and fails to break up the pass.
Overall, Williams is a very good safety prospect, but being a more secure tackler and making more plays on the ball in the air are two areas he could improve as he begins his NFL career.
Conclusion
Williams is a great find for the Packers in the fourth round of the draft. He’s a tough, physical defender who can play in the box as an additional run defender, blitz off the edge, or roam the middle of the field and make plays downhill. The former Oregon standout may not unseat McKinney or Bullard for a starting spot at safety, but he could immediately carve out a role as a “big nickel” (three-safety look) or sub linebacker in nickel or dime. He should also be a great player on special teams coverage units. If he shows enough promise as a rookie and begs to get on the field more, he could play safety alongside McKinney, while Bullard plays more nickel corner. Green Bay will have plenty of options on how to mix and match their young defensive secondary.
(*Note on Williams’ Film: four games of All-22 coaches’ film were viewed for this piece, but only clips from the television broadcasts were allowed to be used for the piece.)