NFL Draft: Top five Cornerback prospects for the Detroit Lions

P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

January 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back

(26) in defense position against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Williams was one of the top corners in college football at Florida State, being able play with both physically and with speed.  With that deadly combo, he was able to win the Defensive MVP of the BCS National Championship game in 2013. To accomplish that, he posted 74 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 10 deflected passes and one interception during the 2014 season.

Williams is capable of transferring his man to man coverage ability and physicality to the NFL.  Those skills he possesses as of right now are NFL ready, and makes him him a possible NFL starter within a year or two.

With this, Williams still needs to change his coverage deep with his touchy coverage style so he doesn’t get called for illegal use of hands.  He also needs to be more consistent when he support the run, as he occasionally misses tackles.

Still Williams can contribute at the NFL level and the Lions have taken notice of that since they hosted Williams for a pre-draft visit back in March.

But, Williams was arrested earlier this month for a DUI, which puts into question whether or not he’s still a first round pick.  This also gives Detroit options, in that they can go a different route in the first round, while getting the good corner they need in Williams, in the second round.

Although selecting Williams in the first wouldn’t be a terrible pick, but Rowe would still be my preferred choice just because of the size he brings and the experience at safety if one of these two end up moving there.  Williams would still be a good pick, but would need to resolve the off field issues to be considered a better choice over Rowe.

Next: Quentin Rollins