ScoutIndex

CLE CLE

Sam Williams

DE

Drafted 56th overall in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft, Sam Williams arrived from Mississippi. He's currently with CLE, in his 5th season in the league. He posted a 58.2 ScoutIndex Rating last season, an above-average mark that placed him in the 73rd percentile among DEFs.

Size

6'4", 261#

College

Mississippi

Draft

Rd 2, 56th overall (2022)

Seasons

2022–2026

2026 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
61.7

80th percentile among DEFs · limited sample

5 games

Splash plays×0.15-0.34
Pass rush×0.3+0.87
Ball skills×0.25-0.14
Run defense×0.2+1.21
Availability×0.1+0.49

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2026CLE61.75
2025DAL58.216
2023DAL5615
2022DAL71.813

Career profile

Sam Williams has appeared in 49 regular-season games across 4 NFL seasons on file, playing for 2 teams: DAL (2022–2025), CLE (2026).

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2022: a 71.8, in the 90th percentile among DEFs that year.

2026 splits

regular season

2026 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1JAX—41.2
Week 2TB—41.1
Week 3CAR—40.4
Week 4PIT—84.5
Week 5NYJ—73.7

Sam Williams — common questions

What position does Sam Williams play?
Sam Williams is listed as a DE.
Which teams has Sam Williams played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Sam Williams has played for DAL (2022–2025), CLE (2026).
Where did Sam Williams go to college?
Sam Williams played college football at Mississippi.
When was Sam Williams drafted?
Sam Williams was selected in round 2, 56th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has Sam Williams scored?
Sam Williams has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is Sam Williams's ScoutIndex Rating?
Sam Williams rated 61.7 for 2026, the 80th percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 2, 2022

Also from Mississippi