Will Alabama star Ryan Williams be the youngest player ever drafted into the NFL?

Ryan Williams, an immediate freshman sensation for the Alabama Crimson Tide, has set the world ablaze at just 17 years old. Once a top prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, Williams reclassified to 2024, allowing him to play at a younger age than most college football players. 

The star freshman playmaker's emergence alongside Jalen Milroe has led fans to wonder about his NFL future. Though Williams isn't draft-eligible until 2027, there's no question this will continually be asked: Will Williams be the youngest player ever to be drafted into the NFL?

Let's answer that question.

How Old is Ryan Williams?

Born February 9, 2007, Williams won't turn 18 until 2025. That means he'll be 20 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and a few days old when the 2027 NFL Draft is underway. Presumably, Williams will be taken in the first round, traditionally on a Thursday night in late April.

Had Williams not moved his high school graduation up by one year, he would still be a senior at Saraland High School in Alabama. 

Will Ryan Williams be the Youngest Player Drafted into the NFL?

Williams won't be the youngest player ever drafted into the NFL, but he will have the chance to be the youngest offensive player taken in the modern era. 

Current Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has the title for an offensive player, taken at 20 years and six months old. Before the merger, Elmer Agnsman was taken in 1946 at only 20 years and one month old.

Amobi Okoye and Tremaine Edmunds are the two youngest players ever selected. Edmonds was 19 years, 11 months, and 26 days old when he was selected by the Buffalo Bills in 2018. 

Who Is The Youngest Player to be Drafted in the NFL Ever?

The youngest player ever drafted in the NFL is Amobi Okoye, a Nigerian-born defensive tackle who achieved the feat in 2007. The Houston Texans selected Okoye as the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. 

Okoye's story is even more remarkable because he was just 19 years, 10 months, and 18 days old at the time, making him the youngest player ever to be drafted in the league's history.