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NFL Draft: FSU CB P.J. Williams Reportedly Arrested for DUI

By Dan Zinski

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A potential Vikings draft target has had a run-in with the law that may greatly affect where he falls on draft day, and could result in him being dropped from draft boards altogether.

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Per Albert Breer and others, Florida State CB P.J. Williams was busted early Friday morning for DUI:

Just days ago, Vikings GM Rick Spielman attended FSU pro day and saw Williams put on a strong performance.

Williams may very well have worked his way into the conversation for the Vikings early in the second round or, in the event of a trade, late in the first. But now? One has to wonder how this incident will affect the Vikings’ feelings about Williams.

Red flags aside, Williams is an intriguing cornerback prospect who possesses good speed and strong open-field tackling ability. CBSSports.com compared him to former Bears CB Charles Tillman in terms of all-around game.

But now Williams’ character will be a greater topic of discussion than his on-field ability. The cornerback already had a black mark against him for a 2014 incident in which he fled the scene of an accident.

Williams isn’t the only possible first round talent to suffer a potentially damaging self-inflicted character wound this year. Nebraska DE Randy Gregory, who is seen by some as a top-10 talent, was forced to offer a public mea culpa after reportedly failing a marijuana test at the combine.

Most observers seem to believe Gregory’s failed test won’t cause him to slide far in the draft. It could be a very different story for P.J. Williams whose recent history of legal problems has to be considered at least alarming if not downright problematic.

A DUI arrest is way worse than a failed pot test in the grand scheme of things. Add the prior hit-and-run incident and you have the recipe for a precipitous draft day tumble.

The Vikings have reason to be concerned about any DUI-related offense after several recent incidents involving players. Last year, Jerome Simpson was suspended and ultimately cut by the team after a DUI bust. Two years ago Erin Henderson was cut after a pair of DUI arrests.

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