Mike Williams is coming off his best season as a pro and these five teams could be great fits for the talented but inconsistent wide receiver.
Finding productive wide receivers isn’t easy in the NFL since many players can deliver wild variances from year-to-year based on factors like scheme fit and health. That description fits Mike Williams to a T as the Chargers’ first-round pick from 2017 put up excellent numbers in 2021, catching 76 passes for 1,149 yards and nine touchdowns, but there were plenty of games where he was invisible over the course of the season.
That inconsistency creates a difficult question for the Chargers to answer since they could opt to use the franchise tag to keep Williams or let him try his luck on the open market. If Williams doesn’t get hit with the tag these five teams would likely be the best fits for him in free agency.
5. Top landing spots for Mike Williams – New York Jets
It’s no secret that the Jets are in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver and Williams could certainly fit the bill. New York did give Corey Davis a three-year deal last spring to add a new weapon to their receiving room and it didn’t quite pan out like the Jets were hoping, which could raise a red flag for GM Joe Douglas with Williams.
Davis fits a similar profile to Williams as Top 10 picks who underachieved relative to their draft position but Williams did produce far better numbers over the course of his career than Davis had prior to the 2020 season. Williams would provide a big target for second-year quarterback Zach Wilson to grow with and is just entering his prime so the Jets don’t have to worry about a potential decline in the short term.
The unknown factor here is if Douglas would want to commit big money to Williams less than a year after paying for Davis when both players may be best served as No. 2 receivers. Williams will get paid like a top receiver by someone but it wouldn’t be shocking if the Jets have a walk-away number on him.
4. Top landing spots for Mike Williams – Houston Texans
One of the best fits for a player like Williams is a team with a young quarterback that needs a talent infusion at wide receiver. Another intriguing landing spot is Houston as the Texans look to begin a rebuild and will be looking to add younger players with upside to their roster.
Deshaun Watson may have played his last down in Houston but the Texans did a good job developing third-round quarterback Davis Mills into a competent starter by the end of the season. Mills will likely get another year to prove he can be a capable NFL starter and the best way the Texans can help him succeed is by adding weapons to their roster.
Brandin Cooks was the only real threat in Houston’s offense a year ago but he is 28 years old and may be seeking a trade to get to a contender. Simply put, Williams would allow the Texans to maintain having a top receiver if Cooks gets dealt or complement him as a No. 2 to further expand what Mills can do in his second year.
Williams will undoubtedly be looking to get paid and Houston will need to pay top dollar to win a bidding war for him. That may not be the wisest allocation of resources given the many needs that the Texans have but it does make sense to add Williams to this roster.
3. Top landing spots for Mike Williams – Jacksonville Jaguars
The Clemson connection could come in handy for Jacksonville as Williams and Jaguars’ starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence both played for the Tigers in college. Even though Williams left for the NFL before Lawrence arrived on campus the two have likely been acquainted over the years through their ties to Dabo Swinney’s program.
Jacksonville also needs to find an upgrade at wide receiver for Lawrence, who showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie but was hamstrung by a lack of weapons on the outside. Top receiver D.J. Chark went down for the season early with an injury, leaving the likes of Laviska Shenault, Marving Jones and Laquon Treadwell to catch passes from the top pick in the 2021 Draft.
Chark is a free agent who may not be retained but even if he does come back Williams offers a significant upgrade over any of Jacksonville’s current options. Williams’ big body offers a vertical dimension to the Jaguars’ offense that was missing in 2021, something that could help unlock Lawrence’s potential in the future.
The other benefit for Williams with Jacksonville is that the Jaguars have a ton of cap room and can afford to pay him like a true No. 1 receiver. Williams will undoubtedly want big money to leave Los Angeles for Jacksonville and the Jaguars could use a big splash to excite their fan base this offseason.
2. Top landing spots for Mike Williams – Cleveland Browns
Another AFC team in need of receiving help is the Cleveland Browns. The franchise cut ties with Odell Beckham Jr in the middle of the 2021 season and could move on from Jarvis Landry this offseason to save some significant money against the salary cap.
The Browns don’t have a lot of receiving talent on their roster behind Landry with Donovan Peoples-Jones checking in as the next-best receiver. That isn’t good enough to contend in the AFC North, particularly with Baker Mayfield needing all the help he can get to get Cleveland back to the playoffs in 2022.
Williams would be an excellent fit for the Browns, who could give him the chance to be a true No. 1 receiver on a contender. Cleveland may also be desperate enough to pay for a great receiver that they give Williams a rich contract in free agency, which would also be enticing for the fifth-year pro.
The one drawback for Williams here would be that he would be the top receiver in a run-first offense that flows primarily through the two-headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in the backfield. The money would definitely be there for Williams if he is willing to accept a larger piece of a smaller pie.
1. Top landing spots for Mike Williams – Los Angeles Chargers
The cleanest fit on the board for Williams is with the only NFL franchise that he’s ever known. Williams clearly developed a strong rapport with Justin Herbert during the 2021 campaign and it would make sense for Los Angeles to try and keep the pair together going forward.
Keenan Allen is also getting older and will turn 30 in April, which could lead to a changing of the guard where Williams becomes the Chargers’ top receiver over the next few years. If Los Angeles believes that they have truly unlocked the best of Williams it would make little sense to let another team benefit from their hard work.
The good news here is that the Chargers do enter the offseason with the third-most cap space in the league, which should enable them to pay Williams and address their other needs. The franchise tag is also a consideration since they can afford to pay the tag value for wide receivers while also upgrading the rest of their roster.
Unless Los Angeles feels it can get better value by either signing a different receiver or drafting a younger replacement the best move to support Herbert’s development is to keep Williams. This is also the best fit for Williams since he can continue to blossom in one of the country’s best media markets, allowing Williams plenty of opportunities to build his brand off the field.