There’s growing confidence around the NFL regarding two of the draft’s most exciting wide receivers.
Alabama wideouts Jameson Williams and John Metchie, who each tore their ACLs last season, are continuing their impressive recoveries, according to several team sources who have evaluated the prospects’ medical situations. Both showed normal progress during their combine medical rechecks last week.
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“Metchie is going to be just fine,” an offensive coach told The Athletic. “They all feel good about Jameson. Metchie is like a freak show with how far ahead he is, almost like an Adrian Peterson (recovery). The doctors down there are saying it’s amazing how fast he’s recovering.”
Metchie tore his ACL on Dec. 4 in the SEC Championship, and Williams went down Jan. 10 in the national championship. Both suffered noncontact injuries.
University of Alabama team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain told The Athletic in March that each receiver was on schedule with their recoveries. That conviction has been shared by NFL teams.
However, it’s still too early to know how soon after the draft either player will start practicing for their new teams. Some teams are more conservative with how quickly they’ll clear a player from an injury, so it’s certainly conceivable one team could clear its newest receiver by training camp while another could stash them on the nonfootball injury list until the middle of the season.
“If you’re drafting this guy, you’re accepting the fact that he’s redshirting,” the coach said. “And if he plays because you’re comfortable with it, he plays. You’re almost drafting to stock for the future.”
Teams have to protect their investments. They included Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo in that category, as he tore his Achilles at his pro day in March.
“Why would you try to rush back from an ACL?” a team executive said. “Anybody who drafts those guys or Ojabo is not looking at it like this guy has to be ready for Week 1. I don’t think that would be anybody’s expectations. I think it’s a great sales pitch for the player to say he’s going to be ready for Week 1, but hey, let’s slow down.”
A general manager added, “It depends on the player, too. Mentally, when do they feel comfortable to go out and play with the speed, power and explosion that they’ll need to be successful in the NFL? There’s a lot of mental stuff that goes into that as well. When I put my foot in the ground and I’m going this way but have to go that way, is it going to hold up? You’ve got to work through the mental thing.”
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Whenever Williams and Metchie are cleared, the consensus is their knees will be structurally sound. That means Williams could still be the first receiver off the board, while Metchie could be selected as high as the second round.
Another offensive coach took it one step further, saying Williams should be in strong consideration for the Jets at No. 10.
“He’s going in the first round for sure,” the coach said. “If the Jets don’t pick him, they’re crazy.”
Williams had 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He’s got high-end speed and is projected to become a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
“Jameson Williams is a stud,” one of the coaches said.
Metchie led Alabama with 96 receptions and had 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He’s viewed as a potential No. 2 receiver in the NFL.
“I like Metchie,” another coach said. “Ton of production, catches a lot of balls, smile lights up the room, really good kid.”
(Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)
