Bucs Give Williams A Chance

James Williams could soon be getting the chance to suit up at Raymond James.

After not being selected in this weekend’s NFL Draft, the Harvard star left tackle has signed an undrafted free-agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he will compete with three other undrafted free agents to make the team as a backup offensive lineman.

Making the Bucs—who already have five offensive tackles on their current roster—will be no easy task for Williams. Many scouts feel Williams is a better fit at guard in the NFL, so if he can learn the position, his versatility could become a major asset. The three other linemen the Bucs signed–Eastern Kentucky's Derek Hardman, Tennessee's Vladimir Richard, and Virginia Tech's Sergio Render–are all rated higher by ESPN's Scouts Inc., so any advantage Williams can get over his competition will be extremely helpful.

For the time being, Williams becomes one of five Harvard football players on NFL active rosters. The others are Ravens center Matt Birk, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Packers quarterback Chris Pizzotti, and Raiders defensive tackle Desmond Bryant.

Williams had been projected as a mid-round draft pick at points during his college career, until inconsistent production during his senior year and a poor pro-day showing (5.54 40-time, 16 bench press reps) hurt his stock.

But the three-time All-American will put that behind him starting this weekend, when he will be in Tampa Bay for the Bucs’ minicamp. There, Williams’ technique will be tested in a hurry, as he’ll have the formidable task of going up against Tampa’s first two draft choices, defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.