The New York Jets landed the best wide receiver left on the free agent market on Tuesday, agreeing to a contract with former Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams, according to NFL Network.
Williams, 29, played in three games before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in 2023. The Chargers released him at the start of the new league year, severing ties with their former first-round pick after seven seasons.
Mike Williams Contract Details
Williams had other free agent visits on his schedule. He was supposed to meet with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers this week, but the Jets didn’t let him leave their building without agreeing to a contract.
Williams signed a one-year deal with a maximum value of $15 million, per NFLN.
After catching passes from Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert during his Chargers stint, Williams will now get to play with Aaron Rodgers as the veteran quarterback returns from an Achilles injury.
Williams, the seventh overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, is a true downfield threat who should complement incumbent New York wideout Garrett Wilson. He’s eclipsed 1,000 yards twice in his career and led the league in yards per reception in 2019.
Hollywood Brown, No. 3 in PFN’s free agent WR rankings, signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs with a maximum value of $11 million.
Williams, No. 6 on our FA WR list, exceeded Brown’s financial upside, but we’ll need to wait for more details on his base value before comparing the two deals.
Are the New York Jets Too Injury-Prone?
Williams is a high-ceiling, low-floor addition for Gang Green — and he’s hardly the only Jets veteran who fits that description.
Rodgers turned 40 in December and is coming off a significant injury. While he believed he could return last season had New York remained in playoff contention, it remains to be seen how his body responds when he gets back to live game action.
The Jets revamped their offensive line by signing left tackle Tyron Smith and trading for right tackle Morgan Moses, but neither player comes without questions.
Smith is 33 years old and hasn’t completed a full slate of games since 2016. He’s dealt with injuries and missed at least three games in every season since
In 2020, a neck issue cost him all but two games. Two years later, a hamstring injury sidelined Smith for 13 contests.
In 2023, Smith managed back, neck, knee, and ankle injuries while starting 13 regular-season games. He was typically limited during Wednesday and Thursday practices as the Cowboys limited his workload.
Moses hadn’t missed a single game since becoming a starter in 2015 until a shoulder injury sidelined him for three games last season. His track record of durability is admirable, but Moses — like Smith — is 33 years old.
KEEP READING: NFL Post-Free Agency Power Rankings
Fellow offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker has played in just 12 games over the past two seasons due to a torn triceps and ruptured Achilles. Running Breece Hall tore his ACL in 2022. Defenders like DT Javon Kinlaw, LB C.J. Mosley, and S Chuck Clark have all had serious injury concerns during their careers.
The Jets may be the most hyper-fragile contending team in the NFL. Injuries are a problem for every team in the league, but New York may need to be more prepared to deploy backups than any other NFL squad.
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