Although wide receiver wasn't a top priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2026 NFL Draft, they still needed to add reinforcements at the position. After all, the Jags were almost set but were missing a WR5. They took care of that when they drafted Josh Cameron in Round 6 and CJ Williams one pick later.
Cameron has been getting lots of hype but is still recovering from a calf strain he sustained at the NFL scouting combine. The injury limited him to warmups at the Jacksonville rookie minicamp. This, in turn, paved the way for Williams to make a strong impression. And based on a recent report, he made the most out of his chances.
CJ Williams amongst the biggest winners of Jaguars rookie minicamp
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated discussed the biggest winners at Jaguars rookie minicamp and included CJ Williams, pointing out that he was the best receiver of the group, with Josh Cameron still nursing an ankle injury. Here's the skinny.
"Williams did not have much national fanfare during the draft process, so it felt like he was entering the weekend with a relatively clean slate in terms of expectations," Shipley wrote. "Maybe it is because of those expectations that Williams impressed, but he certainly looked like an interesting talent over the course of Saturday."
Shipley continued, "He looked like the best receiver of the mostly-UDFA group with Cameron injured, and he made more than a few catches near the sideline that ended up catching my eye."
In a different article in which Shipley highlights the most interesting things that took place at rookie minicamp, he brought up Williams and tight end Tanner Koziol as two Day 3 picks that stood out.
Williams played at USC in 2022 and spent two unremarkable seasons at Wisconsin. It wasn't until he transferred to Stanford that he broke out, hauling in 59 receptions for 749 yards with six touchdowns.
How can CJ Williams make the Jaguars 53-man roster next season?
CJ Williams will have a steep hill to climb to make the 53-man roster, but he has a legitimate shot to pull it off. The Jaguars are nearly set at receiver, with Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers at the top of the depth chart. However, they need a WR5 and could even keep six receivers because they can list Hunter as a receiver.
This means that Williams may need to compete with Williams and other undrafted free agents for the fifth (and maybe sixth) spot. Working in his favor is that he's got an intriguing skillset.
At 6'1" and 199 pounds, Williams knows how to "use his size and physicality" and isn't afraid to fight for contested catches. On top of that, he can track the football and adjust to reel it in. On the other hand, the former Stanford Cardinal lacks burst and short-area quickness. One thing that could hurt his bid for a roster spot is that he doesn't have much experience on special teams.
If Williams can become a contributor on special teams, his odds of making the team will go up. He will then be able to continue honing his skills. The worst-case scenario is that he lands in the practice squad as a rookie.
The truth is that CJ Williams has a long way to go, but he should feel good about where he stands after Jaguars minicamp. It will be up to him to carry momentum into Organized Team Activities.
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