Bills LB Dorian Williams Set for 'Immediate Impact' as a Rookie, Says Insider

"He's a tackle machine, he's very athletic," Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said of third-round linebacker Dorian Williams after selecting him in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The talk for much of the Buffalo Bills' offseason has centered around how the team will replace the production of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

Edmunds, a first-round pick by Buffalo in 2018, signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Chicago Bears in March. A disappointing loss for sure for Bills Mafia, but the draft and free agency remained ahead with options to build around.

And though there's no easy or quick way to replace a guy like Edmunds, the Bills seem to have begun rebuilding that part of the defense in the right way by selecting Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams in the third round last month.

Though Williams obviously isn't the same kind of linebacker as Edmunds, ESPN's NFL insider Jeremy Fowler thinks his rookie year will have some "immediate impact."

"Watch for third-round linebacker Dorian Williams to make an immediate impact," Fowler writes. "Buffalo needs a starter to replace Tremaine Edmunds. Williams is an explosive player (4.49 speed at 228 pounds) who was considered a late bloomer at Tulane: He weighed around 190 pounds when he enrolled in 2019."

Williams and the Green Wave finished the 2021 season with a 2-12 record but did a complete 180 in 2022, going 12-2 and winning the Cotton Bowl over the talented USC Trojans. Williams was a major reason why, as he did a little bit of everything. Along with posting a career-high 17 tackles in that 46-45 win over USC, he led Tulane in tackles (131), sacks (five), was second in passes defended (seven), had two interceptions and forced two fumbles during the season. 

"He's a tackle machine, he's very athletic," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said after selecting him. 

Williams has his elite closing speed to thank, something he showed flashes of when he tied for the fourth-fastest 40 time among linebackers at the combine with a 4.49. This kind of 4-4 speed while rushing toward the quarterback or forcing running backs to cut it back inside could be a major reason why Beane said he'll be starting out at outside linebacker.

This is a different spot than Edmunds' role as a middle linebacker, but Williams has shown the flashes in pass coverage that could eventually warrant him dropping back a bit more. Projecting where Williams will line up for his career all depends on the kind of strengths he shows as a rookie.

But regardless, it's clear that some of the league's top insiders feel the Bills made the right choice by selecting Williams at a value spot in the third round.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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