Kiper says Williams won't be a bust

Mel Kiper isn’t worried about Trent Williams becoming a bust, even if others do. Williams’ work ethic hasn’t exactly won him much praise. It’s why some experts, scouts and even front office executives worried about taking him so high.

However, Kiper, ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst, looks at it differently: if the Redskins No. 1 pick can’t play left tackle, he could move somewhere else. Williams played right tackle and center in college and one general manager thought his best spot would be guard. Kiper makes a good point.

“He played center and he played it well,” he said. “He has a chance to be a very good left tackle, but if not move him to right tackle. That’s the security blanket against the bust.”

Kiper points out left tackles such as Robert Gallery and even Tony Mandarich who were drafted high but ultimately were better at other spots. Leonard Davis fits that, too.

“There are five spots he could play,” Kiper said of Williams. “There’s more a chance he’ll be a boom. I would have opted for Russell Okung, but for their scheme, Trent Williams fits.”

But you don’t draft a right tackle No. 4 overall. You don’t draft a guard or center at No. 4. And you’ll be paying him left tackle money. If he fails at left tackle, the Redskins still have a hole at the second most important spot on offense. So as a left tackle, Williams would be a bust