Antonio Williams 2026 NFL Draft Player Profile

Clemson has been a factory for NFL wide receivers in recent history. DeAndre Hopkins, Tee Higgins, and Mike Williams are just a few former Tigers who went on to find success at the next level. Antonio Williams looks to be the next great Clemson wideout in the NFL following a breakout 2024 campaign. Williams was Cade Klubnik’s top target last season, and that will likely be the case again in 2025. He possesses many traits that teams are looking for, but will it translate into being a first-round pick?

2026 NFL Draft: Antonio Williams Player Profile

Background

Williams was a highly-touted prospect coming out of Dutch Fork(S.C.), being the sixth-ranked wide receiver in the Class of 2022. He chose to stay in the Palmetto State and committed to Clemson. Williams wasted no time becoming an impact player, having 53 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman. With Klubnik taking over at quarterback and the addition of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, it appeared that Williams would be even better as a sophomore. That wouldn’t be the case, as injuries held him to just five games in 2023, finishing with 22 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns.

The performance that was expected in 2023 came a year later, with Williams playing all 14 games. He hauled in 75 receptions for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns as Clemson won the ACC Championship. Williams also displayed some versatility in 2o24, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.

Strengths

Williams is an incredibly polished route runner who possesses great short-area quickness, allowing him to create separation consistently. Once he has the ball in his hands, Williams displays great ability to pick up yards after the catch. He also shows a high football IQ and can improvise on routes to find open grass against zone coverage. Despite his smaller frame, Williams has strong hands and can win in contested-catch situations.  His combination of crisp route running and spatial awareness makes him a viable deep threat out of the slot.

Weaknesses

The aforementioned size is a potential concern for Williams, measuring in at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. There is also the injury history that kept him out of eight games in 2023. While Williams has shown he has strong hands to make catches in tight windows, he did struggle with drops in 2024. His speed is good, but he doesn’t have that extra gear that some other wide receivers possess. Williams works great as a slot receiver, but his smaller frame means he likely won’t be an outside receiver lining up against press coverage at the NFL level.

Overview

Williams is arguably the best pure slot receiver in this class. While he doesn’t project to be as alignment versatile as Jordyn Tyson, his game should translate to a long and productive career on Sundays working out of the slot. He has already honed in on the more nuanced aspects of the position, such as route running and finding the soft spots in coverage. The injuries in his sophomore year may cause some worry, but he returned and had his best season to date in 2024. Williams is a player who wins more with technique than raw physical traits. If he can improve on the drops in 2025, there’s no reason to think he can’t be even more productive than last season.

The 2026 wide receiver class isn’t as strong at the top as some recent classes. This means several prospects can play their way into the first round. Williams should be one of the first players taken at his position. He is a great fit for a contender that needs one more weapon to break through.