Spending the evening among approximately 150 family and friends at a hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana, Williams didn’t see the phone he was using for the draft ring after Cleveland moved up three spots to 46 following a trade with the Colts, but he quickly called right back.
“I was sitting up on my other phone and I wasn’t paying attention to the draft phone,” Williams said via a conference call Friday evening. “The 216-number popped up on the screen, and my girl like kind of tapped me and it said missed call from a strange number. I called back, and I guess it was one of the guys at the front desk. He answered the phone, and he said he was about to transfer me to the GM. The GM told me it was the Cleveland Browns.
“When he said that, a lot of emotion came. I was filled with a lot of emotion just to be a Brownie. I’m just ready to get there and be one of the great players that they expect me to be.”
That same emotion from the LSU corner poured over into his conference call with reporters when he was asked what he knew about the Browns.
“I know one thing, the Browns are going to the Super Bowl this year,” Williams proclaimed.
Then he doubled down.
“John Dorsey's done a great job of getting the right guys in the right positions,” Williams said. “I feel like this team will be the Super Bowl champs, this year.”
Williams’ NFL dreams came true, albeit later than he expected, when the Browns picked him with the vision that he will ultimately help lead them to that Super Bowl by helping to lock down in the secondary.
It was the culmination of a whirlwind two days after starting in Nashville, Tennessee where he walked the red-carpet Thursday night, but he went home after not being selected in round 1.
“I was just overwhelmed. I was just thinking like, ‘Who’s going to get me?’ When I got the phone call from the 216, it was Cleveland and I was just happy,” Williams said. “Filled with a lot of emotions. I am still replaying the phone call over in my head. I’m just happy to be a part of the Brownies. I’m ready to get in and put in a lot of work.”
One thing is for sure, Williams does not lack confidence.
“I have been playing football my whole life, and I always loved to have the football in my hands,” Williams said. “Transferring to defensive back, I knew whoever threw at me that I need the ball in my hands. I made that impact as a defensive back. Coming to Cleveland, I am that guy who can get you the ball two or three times a game, and I know for sure that Baker Mayfield is going to capitalize with those interceptions I get.”
Williams is excited about being paired opposite of last year's No. 4 overall pick, cornerback Denzel Ward, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
“Oh my God, me and Denzel Ward are going to tear up the league,” Williams said. “You can go man on the outside all day, and we will lock down those receivers.”
The Browns are counting on it.