The Seattle Seahawks have already added a former WSU Cougars wide receiver to their roster this offseason, but don’t rule out another Coug standout joining the receiver room soon.
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The Seahawks recently signed River Cracraft to add depth to their shifting receiver group. The addition came after Seattle traded away star DK Metcalf and veteran Tyler Lockett and replace the pair with Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Yakima native Cooper Kupp.
With Jaxon Smith-Njigba also returning after a breakout season, the Seahawks have what could be their top three receivers on the roster. But they could always add more firepower in the NFL Draft, which is less than a month away.
According to CBS Sports draft analyst Mike Renner, WSU product Kyle Williams might just be that guy. Renner explained why during a conversation Wednesday with Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy.
Renner called Williams his “sleeper” pick among wideouts in this year’s draft class.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound receiver is coming off a highly productive year at WSU. He was fourth in the country with 14 touchdowns receptions, eighth with 1,198 receiving yards and second among the 37 receivers with at least 70 catches at 17.1 yards per reception. He also ran a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
However, he isn’t appearing high on a lot of draft boards, Renner said.
Pro Football Focus ranks Williams as the No. 18 receiver and No. 160 overall prospect. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has him his 10th-ranked receiver. But former NFL quarterback and NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms is high on Williams. He has Williams as his No. 2 receiver and lists him in his tier of “Day 1 difference-makers.”
Renner’s view on Williams is closer to Simms’ ranking.
“The second wide receiver in the entire draft class? I’m not going to go that far, but I do have (Williams) as a top-40 player,” Renner said.
The reason why Renner feels Williams would be a good fit in Seattle is that he brings something the Seahawks’ top-two receivers Smith-Njgiba and Kupp don’t.
“I think his speed is something that if he just travels down the road there (to Seattle), that’s what they need,” Renner said. “They have two slower wide receivers in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. You need some speed at that receiver position, and Kyle Williams, he has some of the best juice in this draft class.”
