2017 NFL Mock Draft: Detroit Lions select Mike Williams

With the 21st pick in the 2017 Canal Street Chronicles community NFL Mock Draft, the Detroit Lions select....

Mike Williams, WR, Clemson (6-foot-4, 218-pounds)

This is simply a case of BPA in the early rounds. Although running back and cornerback are more pressing needs for the Lions (and Gareon Conley still being on the board gave me pause on this pick), Williams has the potential to become a star in the NFL. He won't have the pressure to be "the man" in Detroit, and the Lions could put him in favorable situations by moving him around the formation alongside Golden Tate and Marvin Jones.

At 6-foot-4, 218-pounds and with an unofficial 40 time of 4.49, Williams brings size and speed to the offense. Scouts have compared him to Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, citing him as a prototypical flanker. Dabo Swinney had a rule at Clemson called the Mike Williams Rule: "If there's only one [defender] on him, he's open."

The Lions are an offensive oriented team, and Williams adds depth to the position that a quarterback like Matthew Stafford can utilize to its max potential. Williams's ability to make 50/50 catches fits perfectly into Stafford's game. His biggest knock is on drops, where Williams can sometimes struggle. On a team where drops are already abnormally high, this is a large concern, but the reward heavily outweighs the risk in Williams's case. Having a flanker that can catch jump balls is crucial to Stafford's game, and it plays right into Williams's wheelhouse.

Community Mock Draft Results

1. Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, DE, TAMU
2. San Francisco 49ers - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
3. Chicago Bears - Jamal Adams, S, LSU
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
5. Tennessee Titans - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
6. New York Jets - Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
7. Los Angeles Chargers - Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
8. Carolina Panthers - Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
10. Buffalo Bills - Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
11. New Orleans Saints - Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
12. Cleveland Browns - Mitch Trubisky, QB, UNC
13. Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
14. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota) - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
15. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Ramcyzk, OT, Wisconsin
16. Baltimore Ravens - Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
17. Washington Redskins - Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
18. Tennessee Titans (via LA Rams) - John Ross, WR, Washington
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
20. Denver Broncos - David Njoku, TE, Miami
21. Detroit Lions - Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

The Miami Dolphins are on the clock!