Overview
- The Athletic’s QB tiers, published Tuesday, placed Williams tied for 11th in Tier 2 after a notable jump from his prior ranking.
- Williams followed a rocky 2024 rookie year with a breakout 2025 season in which he threw for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns and added 388 rushing yards.
- Multiple unnamed NFL coaches and an executive told The Athletic that Williams shows rare playmaking and fearlessness and could move from a Tier 2 prospect to Tier 1 with more growth.
- Williams produced seven fourth-quarter or overtime game-winning drives in 2025 and threw a 14-yard touchdown to Cole Kmet with 18 seconds left in the NFC Divisional Round to force overtime.
- Analysts say the new rankings reflect changing perception more than final judgment and that stability under coach Ben Johnson, improved pass protection, and Williams’s 2026 on-field results will determine whether he truly reaches the league’s top tier.