Reevaluating the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 draft class
Vince Williams LB, Florida State – Round 6, 206th overall
You may notice that we skipped a couple of players between Jones and Vince. This was no mistake as he is really the last impactful pick for the 2013 class.
Williams was brought a physical style of play to the Steelers linebacker room along with some youth. As a sixth round pick, it was probably not expected of him to start but that changed quickly.
He was thrust into the starting lineup in his rookie season due to injuries and lack of depth. Williams held his own next to Lawrence Timmons and looked much more polished than a sixth round selection.
Vince racked up 53 combined tackles and four tackles for loss on the year. He started 11 of the 15 games he appeared in for the team as a rookie.
Williams was then cast back into the depth chart after former second rounder Sean Spence came back from a gruesome leg injury to play in all 16 games, starting nine of them in 2014.
Spence was not the only linebacker who took the spotlight from Williams as Ryan Shazier‘s rookie year was in 2014 after becoming the Steelers latest first round selection. Williams fell down the depth chart but it wouldn’t last.
Since 2013, Williams has been a key part of the defense appearing in 78 games and starting 36 of them. 30 of those starts have come in the last two seasons where he played in 30 of 32 games and is a full-time starter.
Williams has been somewhat of a saving grace and consistent player for a defense that has been rebuilt over the years. He will now be able to get back to his old style when he was paired with Ryan Shazier and the speed he had as Devin Bush looks to fill that speedy role in 2019.