Detroit Lions: Six worst first-round draft picks of all-time
By Bob Heyrman
Mike Williams
For one year, there were two wide receivers in the league named Mike Williams, Detroit’s, and Tampa Bay’s. Although neither panned out as expected, let’s just say, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the more talented Williams.
Detroit’s Williams was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Similar to Charles Rogers, Williams had an outstanding two-year college football career. Williams played with USC.
In two season’s Williams recorded 176 catches totaling 2579 yards totaling 30 touchdowns. His 6’5 large frame made for a special redzone target. Averaging nearly 15 yards per reception in college was a very respectable number and something the Detroit Lions had hoped translated to the NFL.
Mel Kiper has since claimed Williams as one of his worst draft evaluations of his career. He had all the tools, the size, skill, athleticism, but raw talent wasn’t enough to carry him to a successful NFL career.
Williams played in just 22 career games with the Lions over two seasons. He made 37 catches totaling 449 yards and two touchdowns. It was a short-lived Lions career, but a very unsuccessful one for a top ten draft pick.
Mike tried to latch on elsewhere, but similar to Detroit; he failed to stick. He appeared in 26 games throughout two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks making 83 grabs for 987 yards and three touchdowns.
His final stop would be with the Oakland Raiders for one season, making just 7 catches for 90 yards. For a player with all the tools, he was one of the greatest busts in Detroit Lions history.