When will Ryan Williams be eligible for the NFL Draft? Here’s the Alabama WR’s timeline to turn pro

Stop me if you’ve heard this before – Alabama has a wide receiver who is a star on the college football scene.

The Crimson Tide has produced a number of stars at wide receiver in recent seasons. These elite candidates include Eagles WR DeVonta Smith, who won the 2020 Heisman Trophy, Bills WR Amari Cooper, Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle and Titans WR Calvin Ridley.

However, there was no weapon from Alabama as young as current true freshman Ryan Williams to take the college football world by storm. The 17-year-old is shining in his first season in Kalen DeBoer’s program and has a solid track record alongside QB Jalen Milroe.

The Mobile, Alabama native leads the Crimson Tide in receptions (35), receiving yards (707) and touchdowns (7). He ranks in the top 20 in the country in receiving touchdowns and top 25 in receptions. Williams does all of this while most kids his age are still playing high school football.

After excelling early in his NCAA career, when can fans expect Williams to make the jump to the pros? Here’s what you should know about the Alabama freshman wide receiver’s draft eligibility.

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When will Ryan Williams be eligible for the NFL Draft?

NFL teams will have to wait a while until Williams is available for professional play. The outstanding 17-year-old is not eligible for the NFL Draft until 2027.

He is the youngest FBS player in college football this season and is entering his first season with the Crimson Tide as a true freshman. Williams won’t turn 18 until after the 2024 NCAA football season.

Players must be at least three years out of high school before declaring for the draft. Given his age, that means Williams won’t be ready to turn pro for another three years.

If the Alabama wide receiver does declare for the draft once he is eligible, he will be one of the youngest players ever taken in the NFL Draft. Assuming the NFL Draft continues to take place in late April, Williams would be 20 years and three months old by the 2027 NFL Draft. There have only been three players in history who were younger when they were called up to the pros.

Ryan Williams 2027 NFL Draft Prediction

There are very few mock drafts for 2027. With two more drafts in between, scouts are focusing on 2025 and 2026.

However, if Williams continues on his current path, there’s nothing stopping him from being one of the first names off the list in 2027.

Since Williams reclassified from the 2025 class to the 2024 class, he has more competition in the draft given the ages of the others expected to leave in 2027. However, he will undoubtedly be one of the best, if not the best, wide receiver on the market.

He’s not the only wide receiver in his class making strides to reach the top of mock drafts. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith was widely considered the top recruit in the 2024 class, and he’s proven that with the Buckeyes.

Auburn’s Cam Coleman and Texas Tech’s Micah Hudson are two other highly recruited wide receivers eligible for the NFL in 2027.