There's more to Cleveland Browns rookie cornerback Greedy Williams than his unique nickname.
Knowing several facts about the controversial defensive back should give Browns fans an idea of what he brings to the table. Cleveland made him the 46th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 26.
During a conference call with reporters shortly after his selection (via Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot), Williams told reporters, “I know one thing – that the Browns are going to the Super Bowl this year.”
The @Browns 2nd round pick @Greedy is calling his shot…
Cleveland is headed to the Super Bowl this season. pic.twitter.com/HPnDVUfdU1
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 27, 2019
Yes, the Browns are stacked. They have Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Jr., Jarvis Landry, and Denzel Ward. You can even include Kareem Hunt in the equation once he serves his eight-game suspension.
The Browns haven't made the postseason since 2002. That should change in 2019.
Can they win their first pro football title since 1964? Greedy Williams certainly thinks so.
While it's a bit of a stretch to say the Browns will be Super Bowl LIV champions, they are a good team. The talented cornerback out of LSU should help Cleveland contend for the AFC North for years to come.
3. Williams Led the SEC in Passes Defended and Interceptions
According to LSU's official athletics website, Williams became “the third player in the SEC since 2008 to lead the league in passes defended and interceptions.”
Williams accomplished the feat during his redshirt freshman season in 2017. That year, he had six interceptions and 10 passes defended. Williams is a ball hawk who can cover the best wide receivers. Pair him up with Ward, and you get one of the most dynamic cornerback combos in the AFC North.
Williams told Cabot on April 26 he and Ward will “tear up the league.”
“Oh my God, me and Denzel, we're going to tear up the league. You can go man on the outside all day, and we will lock down those receivers.
Possibly we can be the two Pro Bowl corners in the league playing for the same team.”
Some experts say Williams is not a good tackler. In fact, his draft profile on NFL.com says he “can be jostled by physical receivers.” If he can add some more muscle to his 185-lb. frame, he can prove the naysayers wrong in the 2019 NFL season.
2. Williams Became the First LSU Tiger to Lead the SEC in Interceptions in a Decade
Greedy Williams “became the first LSU player since Craig Steltz in 2007 to lead the SEC in interceptions,” per LSU's official athletics website.
According to Sports-Reference.com, Williams' six picks during the 2017 NCAA season ties him for the sixth-highest total since the SEC started recording the stat in 1976. Terry Hoage of the Georgia Bulldogs holds the SEC record with 12 interceptions. He did it during the 1982 NCAA season.
Perhaps Williams' best attribute as a cornerback is his length. His wiry frame helps disrupt wide receivers who are trying to get into the proper position for a catch.
Williams' arrival couldn't have come at a better time for the Browns – they finished 25th in the league in passing defense in 2018 (4,125 passing yards allowed). He should help stifle opposing wide receivers this season.
1. Williams Was a Finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2018
Greedy Williams was a “finalist for the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back,” per LSU's official athletics website. In the end, the Georgia Bulldogs' Deandre Baker edged Williams and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's Julian Love for the award.
Even though Williams didn't win, he solidified his reputation as one of the nation's top defensive backs. Aside from Williams' wiry frame, his quickness is another tremendous asset. While bigger receivers can jostle him, his quickness should make up for it.
Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey gushed about Williams' abilities, per Cabot.
“(Williams is) fluid, he's easy. He's a smooth-moving corner and he does it effortlessly.
He has hip, he has feet, and he has length. He can play press, and he can play off. Now, you just want to see him mature moving forward.”
Certainly, Greedy Williams has the tools to excel at the NFL level. His accomplishments at LSU speak massive volumes. Just like what Dorsey said, if Williams matures, we're looking at one of the top shutdown cornerbacks in the AFC North.
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