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NFL Draft 2025: Former Georgia edge Mykel Williams picked No. 11 overall in Round 1
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Mykel Williams became the latest Bulldog defender to become a first-round NFL Draft pick on Thursday night.
With the 11th pick in the first round, the San Francisco 49ers selected Williams. The former Georgia edge becomes the 18th first-round selection for Georgia since coach Kirby Smart took over the program.
Overall, Williams is the 49th first-round pick in Georgia football history. His selection also marks the 11th first-rounder for the Bulldogs in just the last 4 drafts
Williams is a homegrown talent, through and through. He was a 5-star recruit out of Columbus (Ga.) Hardaway in the Class of 2022. As a first-year player, he earned a first-team Freshman All-American selection from The Athletic after appearing in 15 games and totaling 28 tackles with 6.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
Over the next 2 seasons, Williams was selected as a second-team All-SEC performer twice, but he spent most of his time in a deep rotation. He finished the 2023 season with just 18 tackles in 13 appearances, though he matched his TFL and sack totals from his freshman campaign while breaking up 2 passes and forcing a fumble.
Last fall, Williams battled through an ankle injury that limited him to 12 games. Snaps were tough to come by, and he ended the season with 21 tackles. However, he produced a career-best 8.5 TFLs to go with 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Williams had 2 sacks against Texas on Oct. 19 and then bullied the Longhorns again in the SEC Championship game.
The physical traits are there. At 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds with length, strength, and bend, Williams has the look of an NFL edge rusher. His production didn’t always measure up to his tools or his reputation, but Williams looked like a future first-rounder when he came into college and made good on that promise Thursday night.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
