\u201cI think it\u2019s about time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ole Miss offensive tackle Jayden Williams<\/a> waited until the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft to here his name called by the Arizona Cardinals, and now he\u2019s just excited to get back to moving men and earth.<\/p>\n Williams, who was measured at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds at the draft combine, spent five years with the Rebels and brings versatility to the desert having started 19 games at left tackle and 15 at right tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cJust sitting and training for (40-yard dashes) and stuff and vertical jumps and broad jumps that you never do on the field, you get tired of it \u2026 so it\u2019s good to get back on the field,\u201d Williams told reporters Friday.<\/p>\n Cardinals rookie OT Jayden Williams is very happy to be back on the grass as opposed to training for the 40-yard dash and going through the draft process.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about time.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/wrUUYqS175<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He was officially able to put the pomp and circumstance of his \u201cWelcome to the NFL\u201d moment behind him Thursday, signing a four-year rookie contract alongside former Texas Tech wide receiver Reggie Virgil<\/a> (fifth rounder) and Iowa linebacker Karson Sharar<\/a> (sixth).<\/p>\n Cardinals rookie minicamp began Friday and runs through Sunday, and Williams said the early dialogue and work has been \u201call good\u201d with assistant offensive line coach Chris Cook, who he first met while playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl in January.<\/p>\n Especially after a long day of physicals on Thursday, Williams said it made the moment of putting on your first NFL jersey with your name embroidered on it that much more special. But he doesn\u2019t want to be wide-eyed for long.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to feel like a freshman again around here,\u201d Williams said. \u201cYou got people that\u2019s been here for four, five, six years, however long, and we just sitting there slowing them down.<\/p>\n \u201cI already know for me, I was the oldest guy in the O-line room at Ole Miss last year, so it\u2019s like you see young guys and it\u2019s kind of like sometimes you\u2019d be like, \u2018OK, OK,\u2019 and be a little patient but like, I don\u2019t want to be that guy for them.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Rebel is joining a position room that includes now-second-year pro Josh Fryar, who made five starts last season, 2024 draft pick Christian Jones and free agent signee Elijah Wilkinson, who started all 17 games for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025.<\/p>\n Williams said he is fully aware of how cutthroat the NFL can be, especially along the offensive line, and knows that the Cardinals will likely be drafting his potential competition as soon as next year.<\/p>\n \u201cI got to be on top of my stuff \u2019cause I already know what kind of game it is,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n Reliving a close CFP semifinal loss to Miami? Nope<\/p>\n Williams watched as Miami quarterback Carson Beck triumphantly waltzed into the end zone of State Farm Stadium, effectively ending Ole Miss\u2019s postseason run in the College Football Playoff semifinal.<\/p>\n Fast-forward four months and the two are teammates. And, ironically enough, they\u2019ll share a new home at the same site of the pivotal game.<\/p>\n Is the offensive tackle eager to reminisce?<\/p>\n \u201cNah, I don\u2019t even want to talk about it,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI was really sick about it. So, just I won\u2019t say nothing about it unless he said something to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Miami lost the national championship to Indiana, so Williams won\u2019t have to worry about Beck holding that over his head at least.<\/p>\n Jayden Williams-Walter Nolen reunion<\/p>\n Walter Nolen, Arizona\u2019s top draft selection last year, made more than a splash in his six games as a rookie (two sacks and eight solo tackles).<\/p>\n Williams and Nolen were Ole Miss teammates for the 2024 season, and a more healthy Nolen in 2026, who suffered a season-ending torn meniscus in his left knee, could make for some fun one-on-one reps in practice.<\/p>\n The two shared a quick hug and greeting Friday, Williams said.<\/p>\n The Rebel contingent doesn\u2019t stop there, as a pair of undrafted players signed with Arizona in wide receiver Harrison Wallace III and safety Wydett Williams III.<\/p>\n Williams donned No. 50 at Ole Miss and will trade that for No. 66 with Arizona.<\/p>\n The Cardinals\u2019 mandatory minicamp for both rookies and veterans is set for June 8-10 with\u00a0three voluntary sessions<\/a>\u00a0in the lead-up to that.<\/p>\n \n