James Williams was drafted No. 158 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1990 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. 137 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #158
- Round
- 6
- Draft class
- 1990
- NFL games
- 137
- Years as starter
- 1
- Career AV
- 1834th at Mississippi State
The pick
How James Williams came off the board in 1990.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
137 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value
- Games played
- 137
- Seasons as a starter
- 1
- Career approximate value
- 1834th among Mississippi State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1478% of career value
- Final season
- 19999 years after the draft
Around pick 158
Who came off the board on either side of James Williams.
Maine
Northwestern State
Northern Iowa · 1× All-Pro · 4× Pro Bowl
Nebraska
Mississippi State in the 1990 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Mississippi State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
K.J. Wright
LB · SEA · 2011
Mississippi State · 1× Pro Bowl
#2
Johnie Cooks
LB · IND · 1982
Mississippi State
#120
Greg Favors
LB · KC · 1998
Mississippi State
#63
Willie Gay Jr.
LB · KC · 2020
Mississippi State
#228
Mario Haggan
LB · BUF · 2003
Mississippi State
#220
Jamar Chaney
LB · PHI · 2010
Mississippi State
Other players named James Williams
Different people who share this name in the draft archive.
Miami
Marshall
Fresno 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 Linebacker out of Mississippi State selected No. 158 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1990 NFL Draft. 137 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value Mississippi State has produced 113 NFL draft picks since 1980.
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. 158 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1990 NFL Draft (Rd 6). 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 Mississippi State in the SEC. See every Mississippi State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/mississippi-state-bulldogs.
How did James Williams's NFL career turn out?
137 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 18 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1990/james-williams.