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The wait for the 2021 NFL Draft is hitting the home stretch, as the big event that will be held in Cleveland this year is just 10 days away. Media outlets will continue to update their mock drafts and rankings up until April 29, but Pro Football Focus came out with their final running back ranking update today. PFF interestingly had Javonte Williams ranked as their No. 1 running back in this year's draft. Most analysts have Williams ranked as the third-best running back, behind Travis Etienne and Najee Harris, who is considered by many as the most complete running back of the three.
PFF also has the Steelers selecting Williams at 24th overall in their mock draft, which makes sense, as the Steelers have one of the worst running back rooms in the league as of right now and they ranked dead last in rushing yards per game (84.4) and yards per carry (3.6) last year.
Williams is a bulldozer of a running back, who has a knack to break away from defenders on first contact. According to PFF, the Steelers finished 31st in explosive run play percentage in the regular season. Javonte Williams' 4.59 yards after contact in 2020 is over a yard better than the Steelers' overall yards per carry mark last season. Williams' NFL comparison is Nick Chubb.
Williams rushed for 1,140 yards on 157 carries (7.3 average) and 19 touchdowns last season at North Carolina. He also had 25 receptions for 305 yards (12.2 average) and three touchdowns. In his three-year career at North Carolina, Williams rushed for 2,297 yards on 366 carries (6.3 average) and 29 touchdowns, along with 59 receptions for 539 yards (10.8 average) and four touchdowns.