James Williams was drafted No. 16 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1990 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. 70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #16
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1990
- NFL games
- 70
- Years as starter
- 2
- Career AV
- 1723rd at Fresno State
The pick
How James Williams came off the board in 1990.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value
- Games played
- 70
- Seasons as a starter
- 2
- Career approximate value
- 1723rd among Fresno State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1271% of career value
- Final season
- 19966 years after the draft
Around pick 16
Who came off the board on either side of James Williams.
West Virginia · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
Houston · 1× Pro Bowl
Florida · Hall of Fame · 4× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
Ole Miss
Fresno State in the 1990 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Fresno State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
DaRon Bland
DB · DAL · 2022
Fresno State · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
#33
Marquez Pope
DB · LAC · 1992
Fresno State
#213
Michael Stewart
DB · LAR · 1987
Fresno State
#58
Richard Marshall
DB · CAR · 2006
Fresno State
#224
Omar Stoutmire
DB · DAL · 1997
Fresno State
#133
James Sanders
DB · NE · 2005
Fresno State
Other players named James Williams
Different people who share this name in the draft archive.
Miami
Marshall
Mississippi State
Memphis
Wyoming
North Carolina A&T
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Williams in the 1990 NFL Draft
James Williams is a Defensive back out of Fresno State selected No. 16 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1990 NFL Draft. 70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value Fresno State has produced 72 NFL draft picks since 1981.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was James Williams drafted?
James Williams was selected No. 16 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1990 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/james-williams.
What college did James Williams play for?
James Williams played college football at Fresno State in the Mountain West. See every Fresno State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/fresno-state-bulldogs.
How did James Williams's NFL career turn out?
70 regular-season games · 2 seasons as a starter · 17 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/james-williams.