PJ Williams, RT SMU: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Williams was a four-star recruit from Dickinson High School in Dickinson, Texas in the class of 2022
SMU’s PJ Williams ranks among the most athletic offensive tackle prospect I’ve evaluated over the past few years, but he still needs to clean up several areas of his game to emerge as a premier target in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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PJ Williams, RT SMU: 2026 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt junior right tackle from Dickinson, Texas
Background: Williams was a four-star recruit from Dickinson High School in Dickinson, Texas in the class of 2022. He was the No. 69 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 125 for Rivals, and No. 64 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 50th in the nation with an 86 grade out of 100. Williams transferred from Texas A&M to SMU for the 2023 season. He was a First Team District 24-6A selection in 2021 and earned Class 6A Second Team All-State honors from the Texas Sportswriters Association (TSWA) as Dickinson went undefeated in district competition. Williams also earned First Team District 24-6A honors as a junior and sophomore. He was an Under Armour All-American. Williams also lettered in basketball, averaging 9.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game as a junior and 12.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.9 steals per game as a senior.
Injuries & Off-Field: Indefinitely suspended by Texas A&M following the 2022 South Carolina game due to a violation of team rules during a postgame locker room incident, arrested in Nov. 2022 for possession of marijuana, missed the majority of two games in 2023
Awards: 2024 Third Team All-ACC
Pros: Experience starting at left and right tackle, prototypical height and arm length, natural mover and smooth athlete, smooth and explosive kick step, quickly gains width and depth, agility to redirect and stay attached to blocks, range in pass protection, snatch-trap, drives edge rushers upfield to open B-gap run lanes, drives legs through run blocks, arrives with significant force on angle blocks, comfortable working to the second level, movement skills pop, quick to redirect and work off combo blocks, eye-catching speed in the open field, seeks out pancake opportunities, plays through the whistle
Cons: Committed 12 penalties in 2024, high-hipped, needs to add mass to lower half, occasionally short sets and loses around outside, takes flat angle pass sets that soften his outside shoulder’s integrity, caught overextending in pass pro to make contact, hand usage underdeveloped, must refine strike timing and placement, needs more hand counters, no clear counter vs. long-arm, out-reached and knocked back by Donovan Ezeiruaku (2024), wide hands give up his chest too easily, pad level causes loss of leverage in pass pro, footspeed fades toward top of the arc, must drop anchor earlier in play, caught off guard by some stunts, resorts to bear-hugging in run game, overruns some run blocking assignments
Overview: Williams primarily plays right tackle but has also taken starting snaps on the left side. He’s a little high-hipped and needs to fill out his lower half, but he possesses a prototypical build with good height, length, and room to grow stronger. Williams pops on tape for his smooth movement and natural athleticism. He deploys an explosive kick step that allows him to gain impressive width and depth while maintaining a fluid and well-timed pace. Williams’ football IQ and consistency still need work. He sometimes short sets the pass rusher, softening his outside shoulder, or takes a flat angle set that doesn’t give him enough depth to prevent rushers from turning the corner. The Texas native overextends when attempting to initiate contact, creating favorable angles for defenders. He needs to overhaul his hand usage to address his strike placement and timing and add more counters to disrupt bull rushes. His hands land too wide, which allows long-limbed rushers like Donovan Ezeiruaku (2024) to access his chest and lock him out on speed to power. Williams knows how to set up and deploy a snatch-trap, but he needs to diversify his hand usage while still incorporating the snatch-trap more often. He would also benefit from playing with more knee bend to lower his pads and level the leverage battle. Once latched, the redshirt junior has the agility and quickness to redirect and stay attached to blocks both in pass protection and the run game. His range helps him drive rushers upfield and around the pocket, but he suffers from fading footspeed near the top of the rusher’s arc. This allows the defender to sometimes bend and penetrate the pocket. Williams needs to add some lower body mass and deploy his anchor earlier in plays to limit the displacement power rushers generate. He’s still developing the instincts and recognition to catch stunts and eliminate some of the penalties that plague his game. Williams uses a firm inside hand to turn edge rushers and create massive B-gaps in the run game. He drives his legs through blocks and matches the speed and agility of the defender to remain attached to his block. Williams comfortably works to the second level and thrives redirecting on combo blocks to pick off second level targets. His speed and range in the open field pop and are complemented by his desire to pancake defenders. The All-ACC selection seeks opportunities to finish plays through the whistle both in space or in the trenches. His speed sometimes backfires and causes him to overshoot targets in space.
Overall, Williams is one of the most physically gifted offensive tackles in the 2026 class and offers the ceiling to attract NFL teams in the top 50 selections. He’s still a ball of clay in need of some serious technical refinement and carries baggage from mistakes early in his college days. If he continues on his trajectory and returns to school next season, he could emerge as a top ranked 2027 prospect.
Role & Scheme Fit: Right tackle in a wide zone offense
Round Grade: Late Second to Early Third Round
Size: 6'5", 317 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 05-01-25