Three surprise breakout candidates for Miami Dolphins training camp
Trill Williams
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 19: Trill Williams #6 of the Syracuse Orange reacts after a defensive stop in the second quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on September 19, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Atrilleon “Trill” Williams, CB
When the 2021 NFL draft concluded, it was surprising that Trill Williams hadn’t been selected. The athletic defensive back from Syracuse had made it all the way to #127 on the consensus big board and most analysts expected him to be an early day-three selection. Trill chose to sign as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints but was cut soon after when he failed the initial physical. The Dolphins were luckily able to claim the rookie off waivers-making him their highest-graded UDFA.
"Height: 6’2″ (95th percentile) Weight: 198 (73rd) Vertical: 36 (50th) Broad: 123 (55th) Bench: 20 reps (92nd) 40-yard: 4.42 (75th) Courtesy of PFF"
As you can see, Williams has the prototypical size, strength, and athleticism to be a physical outside corner. Williams saw the field immediately as a freshman at Syracuse, playing over 60% of his coverage snaps at boundary corner, and flashed some playmaking ability, racking up 2 interceptions and a touchdown as a freshman. The following two seasons, Syracuse played him almost exclusively in the slot (75% of all coverage snaps) with a few plays at safety and outside corner sprinkled in.
Advanced stats courtesy of SIS Data Hub Pro
Williams consistently flashed that playmaking ability during his time at Syracuse but wasn’t consistent enough in coverage. He’s is an extremely raw, but gifted athlete. Miami is a perfect place for Trill to learn the nuances of the position. He has the versatility to play at safety, slot, or boundary, but I think he has the most potential as an outside corner.
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What to expect
It probably isn’t realistic to expect Williams to crack the starting lineup immediately-especially if Xavien Howard returns to the fold. A breakout for Trill Williams will be to impress in training camp and solidify his position on the 53 man roster. With a year or two of learning behind Byron Jones and Xavien Howard, Williams could be a special player in the future.