Could Daryl Williams crack the starting lineup? We take a look at what the ceiling and the floor might be for the offensive tackle’s first year with the Buffalo Bills.
Last year the Buffalo Bills made almost a complete overhaul of the offensive line and the performance improved. The good news is that the team was able to bring back all five starters after they re-signed Quinton Spain.
This offseason, after the team re-signed Spain, the offensive line wasn’t a huge priority. However, they did make one move that could cause a reshuffling of the offensive line. The Bills went back to their Carolina Panthers’ connection and signed free agent Daryl Williams to a one-year deal.
Williams was a second round pick by the Panthers in 2015 and after some spot starts became a full-time starter in 2016, starting 10 games that season. It was in 2017, that Williams really had a breakout year, starting all 16 games at right tackle and earned second-team All-Pro honors.
However, the past two seasons haven’t been as positive due to a knee injury suffered in training camp in 2018 that cost him the entire season minus one game. Then this past season, Williams was moved around the offensive line as the Panthers tried to account for injuries.
Ceiling/Floor projections for Daryl Williams in 2020
If there was one position on the offensive line that feels like it is up for grabs it would be right tackle. Cody Ford did a good job as a rookie but there is room for improvement. The question is does that improvement come from Ford, entering his second year, or a switch to Daryl Williams?
If Daryl Williams shows that he is fully recovered from his knee injury, and if he is given the chance to focus solely on the right tackle position, he should win the starting job. He may not be able earn All-Pro honors but he has shown he can play at a high level.
If a starting job is the ceiling for Williams, the floor is that he is a good backup that, while not ideal, could be a backup at a number of positions.