Things are heating up for New Orleans Saints fans in the Big Easy. Not only did the team win four of their last five regular-season games, but the team also had a pretty good free agency cycle by landing running back Travis Etienne Jr. With all the excitement building, there is one player the Saints could target in the draft to help build upon their forward momentum.
Antonio Williams Is a Great Fit for the Saints
One strength of Clemson Tigers wide receiver Antonio Williams is his consistency. As Jacob Infante of PFSN put it, “He may not have had the WR1-type season.” So, while Williams’ numbers may not be amazing, they are very consistent.
In every game for the Clemson Tigers except two, he had at least five catches. His lowest amount of receiving yards in a game with a catch was 37, and he averaged 60.4 yards a game, which is a pretty solid number.
The Saints’ main focus in 2026 should be to develop second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. Getting a wide receiver of Williams’ caliber, who is very reliable, will help Shough develop rhythm and a feel for head coach Kellen Moore’s offense.
Not only is Williams reliable, but he is a technical titan in terms of navigating the field. This, paired with Shough’s quick release, could be a deadly duo for opposing defenses to face. “He’s a crafty route runner with good explosion,” Infante added.
On the note of Moore, he has done a great job with receivers in his coaching career. The most recent example of Moore’s great work was with Chris Olave. Olave had his best year with the Saints as he had over 1,000 yards, got a B- grade, and ranked 24th according to PFSN’s NFL WR Impact Metrics.
With Moore’s great work with wide receivers, he could help Williams reach his true potential. Williams is only 21, so he will have plenty of time to grow and develop in New Orleans under Moore.
The fact that Williams has a lot of room to grow, is consistent, and would be an assist to Shough makes him a great addition to the Saints. However, the fact that he goes in Round 3 makes this a potentially incredible value pick by the Saints.
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Even though he is projected to go in Round 3, Williams is still a very talented prospect. As Infante put it, “Williams is still one of the best wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft.”
This draft class features many amazing, talented wide receivers, including Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, and Makai Lemon. This means great players like Williams get pushed down the draft board, which could lead to him being a fantastic fit with the Saints and being a great building block for the future.
