Mike Williams says he'll be the best Mike Williams in NFL history

Once upon a time, I believed Mike Williams would be the best wide receiver in the NFL. Not Clemson’s Mike Williams, who may be the first receiver off the board in the 2017 NFL Draft, but USC’s, who put up ridiculous numbers for the Trojans in 2003 and 2004.

His NFL career didn’t pan out.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted a receiver named Mike Williams in 2010 and that didn’t amount to much either, nor did the Mike Williams who played for the Miami Dolphins from 1991 to 1995.

Clemson’s Mike Williams is hoping to buck that trend and he’s confident he’ll set the bar for futures Mike Williamses everywhere.

Altogether, there are seven players named Mike Williams who have ever seen an NFL field. Three played receiver, two were tight ends, one was an offensive tackle and one was a defensive back.

Neither tight end caught 20 passes in their NFL career, so the youngest Williams will just have to top the receivers to reign as the top pass catching Mike Williams.

Let’s rank those Mike Williamses:

1. Mike Williams (2010-14): The fourth-round pick helped Josh Freeman post strong numbers in 2010. Williams caught 65 passes for 964 yards with 11 touchdowns, and posted similar numbers in 2011 and 2012. It was enough to earn a six-year, $40.25 million extension from Tampa Bay in 2013, but then he dealt with hamstring injuries. Williams was eventually traded to the Buffalo Bills and spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, but never returned to form.
2. Mike Williams (2005-11): I was serious when I said I believed this Mike Williams would be the best receiver in the NFL. He was basically unstoppable at USC, racking up more than 2,500 receiving yards to go with 30 touchdowns in only two seasons. Then he tried to join Maurice Clarett in the 2004 NFL Draft and things went south. He had to sit out an entire year and still went in the top 10 of the draft, but never lived up to his potential with the Detroit Lions. Williams made a bit of a comeback with the Seattle Seahawks, but he’s remembered as a draft bust.
3. Mike Williams (1989-95): Who? Apparently there was a Mike Williams who spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in 1989 before playing five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He returned 29 kicks and caught 21 career passes.

The Clemson product in the 2017 NFL Draft has a chance to be the first wide receiver off the board and possibly a top 10 pick. If he isn’t the best Mike Williams in NFL history, he’d be a colossal bust.