Coming out of the University of Texas, Roy Williams was one of the most hyped wide receivers in NFL draft history.
With good reason.
He left Texas University as its greatest wide receiver; the leader in all major categories and finalist for the Belitnikoff Award his junior and senior years.
With all of that talent, the Detroit Lions couldn't resist drafting him seventh overall in 2004. Williams joined Charles Rogers in what was supposed to be the Lions' receiving corps of the future.
But we all know how that turned out.
Despite the misfortune of being drafted by Matt Millen, Roy Williams was not a bust like most Lions draft picks of that era.
On one hand, he could be viewed as an underachiever. It's been one disappointing season after another with Dallas and Chicago.
But I prefer to remember his days with the Detroit Lions, where he was the best player on the team, highly productive and exciting to watch.
He ranks eighth on the Lions' career receiving list with 3,884 yards, and his yards-per-game average of 64.7 is second only to Calvin Johnson.
Not too bad for only spending five years in Detroit.
In 2006, he had the eighth-best receiving single season in Detroit Lions history with 82 receptions, 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns.
It is unfortunate that Williams was drafted by Matt Millen. Those Millen teams were inferior, and playing with a lack of talent around him impacted his career.
I'm sure going 0-16 in 2008 impacted his career as well.
It is clear that Roy Williams' best days are behind him. But I will always remember his productive days in Honolulu blue and silver—and, of course, his emphatic first down celebrations.
