Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the San Francisco 49ers have conducted a virtual meeting with former Oregon safety Evan Williams.
#Oregon DB Evan Williams: Workhorse w/ 82 tackles, 4.5 sacks this yr. Great @SeniorBowl, jumped 40.5" vertical + 10-ft-6 broad at NFL Combine.
Recent virtual meetings include #Bills, #Packers, #49ers.@Evan_Williams32 on @TheDraftNetwork:https://t.co/t0f7DziJEx
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 12, 2024
Williams transferred from Fresno State to Oregon in 2023. In 13 game appearances with the Ducks, he tallied 82 tackles, including five for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble, per Sports Reference. Over his collegiate career spanning five seasons, he amassed 308 tackles, including 16 for a loss, 5.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
The versatile defensive back has experience in the slot, with 165 of his 744 snaps last season coming while lined up at the nickel corner spot. This could make him an intriguing prospect worth monitoring as San Francisco continues to explore options for the position.
"Williams was a tad more consistent in 2022 while at Fresno State, but he was also put in better position to succeed," Lance Zierlein wrote in the player's NFL.com scouting report. "He is broad-hipped with limited agility and athleticism to align too far away from the line of scrimmage. He's a box safety with a good feel for finding entry points and making tackles near the line. He can match up underneath and is average in zone but will allow too many big plays against NFL wideouts. He has a chance to impress on special teams but inconsistent open-field tackling could hurt his chances of becoming a viable backup strong safety."
In coverage last season, Williams allowed 27 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown on 37 targets. Opposing quarterbacks had a 96.5 passer rating when targeting him.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5' 11 1/4" and 200-pound Williams posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.6 seconds, a vertical jump of 40.5 inches, and a broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches.
Visit our pre-draft tracker for a comprehensive overview of all reported formal and informal meetings between the 49ers and prospective NFL rookies.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan, from Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27.
