The Jets have added another weapon in their receiver room.
Wide receiver Mike Williams will sign a one-year deal with the Jets, sources told the Daily News. NFL Network is reporting Williams’ deal could be worth up to $15 million.
Williams was scheduled to visit the Panthers and Steelers later this week. But he didn’t leave the Jets facility without agreeing to a contract.
Last week, the Chargers released Williams, which saved them $20 million against their salary cap. Williams played seven seasons with the Chargers after the team selected him seventh overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Clemson.
At 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, Williams’ large frame allows him to bring down contested passes in coverage. 2021 was Williams’ breakout season with the Chargers. He caught 76 passes for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns.
Because of that, the Chargers rewarded him with a three-year, $60 million contract extension.
However, Williams has been hindered by injuries the last two seasons. He played in 13 games in 2022 and recorded 63 catches for 895 yards and four touchdowns. But Williams missed the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Chargers that year due to a fracture in his back.
Williams was healthy for the 2023 season and caught 19 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown in three games. But he tore his ACL in Week 3 and missed the rest of the season.
This offseason, the Jets prioritized finding another big-play receiver to play alongside Garrett Wilson. They also wanted to provide quarterback Aaron Rodgers with another weapon, which the Jets hope will improve their offense.
After Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tear four plays into the season opener on Sept. 11, the Jets finished 31st in yards (268.6) and 29th in points per game (15.8).
A year ago, Gang Green thought they had found a compliment to Wilson after signing Allen Lazard to a four-year contract worth $44 million. However, Lazard struggled in his first season with the Jets after registering 23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown in 14 games.
Outside of Wilson, no other wide receiver caught more than 30 passes for the Jets last season. Running back Breece Hall was the team’s second-leading (76 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns). Tight end Tyler Conklin finished with 61 catches for 621 yards.
To help the Jets sign Williams, X/Twitter account @NYJMatt from Broadway Jets ordered a Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich and had DoorDash send it to the Jets facility in Florham Park. The Jets official account posted a photo of the sandwich delivered in a paper bag.
Mike Williams’ breakfast sandwich is on the way. Let me know when it arrives @nyjets pic.twitter.com/kLE4QuQgh0
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) March 19, 2024
“Honestly, it was meant to be a nice gesture, and if there was a .1% chance of increasing the chance of him singing, I had to do it,” he told The News about having the order delivered to the Jets.
got it https://t.co/KG0cBPuZNE pic.twitter.com/ZS4FEHC2sF
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 19, 2024
Apparently, the gesture worked now that Williams is now an official member of the Jets.
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