Who Is Mykel Williams? The Georgia Star NFL.com Pegs as a Potential First-Round Steal for the Bengals
There are always a few names in the NFL Draft cycle that creep up the boards late—talented prospects who were perhaps overlooked in the shadow of bigger stars or simply didn’t get the national media hype. In 2025, one of those names is Mykel Williams, a defensive end out of the University of Georgia. A recent mock draft by NFL.com projects Williams going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 17 overall pick, a spot that reflects both his immense potential and the evolving needs of the Bengals’ defense.
But for those who aren’t dialed into Georgia football every Saturday or missed out on Williams’ path to stardom, it’s fair to ask: Who is Mykel Williams?
To understand that, you have to start with the raw tools that have NFL scouts buzzing. Williams is a prototype edge defender in terms of physical build and explosiveness. At 6-foot-5 and around 265 pounds, he possesses the rare combination of size, speed, and length that NFL defensive coordinators crave. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia, and the No. 4 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Even before he arrived in Athens, it was clear he had the look of a future pro.
From the moment he stepped on campus at Georgia, Williams began to flash his potential. As a true freshman in 2022, he led the Bulldogs in quarterback pressures, even though he was rotating in with a loaded defensive line that included several future NFL draft picks. His ability to win one-on-one matchups off the edge and collapse the pocket drew attention. While he didn’t pile up double-digit sacks in his first year, it was evident to anyone watching closely that Williams was the next great Georgia defender waiting in the wings.
What separates Williams from many of his peers is his versatility. He isn’t just a one-trick pass-rusher who wins with speed around the edge. Williams is strong at the point of attack and can anchor against the run. He’s also scheme-versatile, capable of playing in both 4-3 and 3-4 alignments. Georgia used him in a variety of ways throughout his college career—standing him up, moving him inside on obvious passing downs, and letting him operate as both a contain and attack edge. That kind of flexibility is a major asset for an NFL team like Cincinnati, which has recently leaned on hybrid fronts and asked its ends to do more than just pin their ears back and rush.
The 2023 and 2024 seasons were the real proof of Williams’ trajectory. He became a full-time starter and began to live up to the lofty expectations that followed him out of high school. In those two years, he compiled a stat line that reflects his all-around game: consistent sack production, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, and pressures—plus a number of batted passes and even a forced fumble or two. While the sack totals weren’t gaudy in comparison to someone like Alabama’s Dallas Turner or UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, scouts took note of the tape. Williams created disruption. He made plays when it mattered. He was always around the ball.
Off the field, Williams is known as a high-character player. Coaches at Georgia rave about his work ethic, maturity, and football IQ. He’s the kind of player who does the dirty work in practice and doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight with teammates. In interviews, he comes off as humble and thoughtful—qualities that endear him to locker rooms and make him a natural culture fit for a team like the Bengals.
From Cincinnati’s perspective, the potential selection of Williams at No. 17 makes a lot of sense. The Bengals have built a solid defensive front in recent years, but there’s a need for more edge juice—especially as they plan for the future. Trey Hendrickson is still productive, but he’s entering the later stages of his contract and career. Mykel Williams offers the opportunity to develop a new foundational piece on the edge who can eventually be that go-to pass rusher in big moments.
It’s also worth noting that the Bengals tend to value toughness, consistency, and SEC pedigree in their draft selections. Williams checks all of those boxes. He played under Kirby Smart, one of the most demanding coaches in the country, and came through a program that has now churned out NFL defenders at an unmatched rate. That experience matters, and it gives Williams a leg up in terms of adjusting to the pro game.
Still, no prospect is without questions, and Williams is no exception. Some scouts want to see him develop more of a refined pass-rush arsenal. Right now, he wins mostly with power and athleticism—long arm moves, bull rushes, and quick get-offs. Adding more hand counters and secondary moves would help him become a more dangerous and complete rusher at the next level. Others question whether his ceiling is as high as some other edge rushers in the class, simply because he hasn’t shown the same burst or bend around the corner as someone like Florida State’s Jared Verse.
But for every concern, there’s a counterpoint. Williams’ floor is exceptionally high because he doesn’t have to be a 15-sack-per-year player to make a big impact. He’s going to hold the edge in the run game, he’s going to generate pressures even when he doesn’t finish with sacks, and he’s going to allow a coordinator to get creative with alignments and schemes.
For the Bengals, who are in a window of contention with Joe Burrow at quarterback and a young core on both sides of the ball, the key in this draft is adding difference-makers. Mykel Williams might not be the flashiest name, but he’s the kind of pick that looks better and better with time. In a few years, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him as one of the more consistent and reliable edge defenders from this class—a true value pick outside the top 10.
And in a draft class that has been dominated by offensive headlines—quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive tackles—players like Williams can sometimes fly a bit under the radar. But make no mistake: front offices know how valuable edge defenders are, especially ones who can stay on the field in all situations. Williams has the build and the mindset to be that guy. He’s already played at the highest level in college football, and he’s done it with poise and quiet intensity.
NFL.com’s projection of Williams to the Bengals may not set the internet on fire the way a quarterback pick does, but it speaks volumes about how teams are evaluating the total picture. Production, traits, character, and fit—Williams grades well in every category. And with Cincinnati looking to maintain its defensive identity in a conference loaded with elite quarterbacks—from Patrick Mahomes to Lamar Jackson to C.J. Stroud—adding someone like Williams becomes even more important.
In many ways, Mykel Williams is exactly what the Bengals need: a player who doesn’t need the spotlight to shine, but who has all the tools to become a star in the right system. He might not be the loudest voice or the most hyped player in the class, but if you’re looking for someone who will quietly rack up pressures, force offensive lines to adjust, and be a steady force on the edge for years to come, Mykel Williams is your guy.
So, who is Mykel Williams? He’s a rising star, a coach’s dream, and potentially the next big piece in Cincinnati’s defensive puzzle. If the Bengals pull the trigger at No. 17, it won’t just be a safe pick—it could end up being one of the smartest ones in the entire first round.
