After unsuccessfully trying to negotiate a trade, the Los Angeles Chargers have officially sent Mike Williams to the free agent market by way of release. Originally joining the team as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Clemson product has been one of the organization’s more productive members over the past seven seasons. Serving as a physical presence on the outside, the wideout has two separate 1,000-yard seasons to his name and has hauled in 31 touchdowns in 88 games.
Unfortunately, the Chargers had to make a tough business decision. Entering the final year of his contract, Williams carried an absurd $32.46 million cap hit, and Los Angeles saved $20 million by parting ways with the veteran. Given his recent injury history, this was a no-brainer once it became clear that a trade was not going to happen. With cap space at a premium, Los Angeles had no choice but to let a talented player at a premium position walk for nothing.
Sources: The #Chargers releasing WR Mike Williams, making him a free agent. Williams, on the books for a $32M cap hit, becomes a top FA WR available. pic.twitter.com/tiMhvOrqDb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
Chargers Release Mike Williams, Should Have Plenty of Free Agent Interest
Even though Mike Williams is not worth a $32.46 million cap hit, the 6′-4″, 218-pound wide receiver should have no issues finding a new team as a free agent. While he only played three games in 2023, the wideout has earned a somewhat undeserved reputation for being prone to injuries. While his aggressive style of play naturally lends itself to excess contact, it’s worth noting that he’s played in at least 13 games every year from 2018 to 2022, and at least 15 games from 2018 to 2021.
The NFL is a physical game, and every single player is one bad snap away from calling it a career. Perhaps the hits are starting to catch up to Mike Williams, but chances are, his odds of re-injury are not significantly higher than any other player.
Any team looking to sign Mike Williams as a free agent could easily do so in a cap-friendly manner. Because he played so few games, teams could set incentives as “Not Likely to Be Earned” and not count against the 2024 cap. For instance, Williams played in three games and caught 19 passes last year, so setting salary incentives for playing in four games and catching 20 passes would technically not impact this year’s salary cap.
Best Team Fits
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson, but that shouldn’t be the end of their work. While Johnson is a notable improvement, he’s not good enough to singlehandedly fix this offense. Mike Williams might not be a true #1 receiver himself, but the free agent can combine with Johnson and Adam Thielen to form a decently solid wide receiver trio. Combined with the massive offensive line investments, the Panthers have done enough to give Bryce Young a shot to succeed.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots parted ways with DeVante Parker after two disappointing seasons with the club. While the former Miami Dolphin didn’t work out in Foxboro, his departure leaves New England with a bit of a hole at outside receiver. Mike Williams has a similar style of play to Parker, except the free agent is far more effective on a per-target basis. Once again, Williams cannot singlehandedly save an offense, but he will make the unit better.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs recently restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract to create over $20 million in cap space. That money is not going to go to Mike Williams, but it shows that they’re not done with the free agent period. Travis Kelce is still one of the best at his position, and Rashee Rice looks like a future star. However, if this team wants to improve their odds of a three-peat, they need to get another outside receiver.
New York Jets
The New York Jets only have one good wide receiver, and that’s not enough for the present-day version of Aaron Rodgers. While they could certainly invest in one during the 2024 NFL Draft, Rodgers is at the point in his career where he won’t want to rely on a rookie adjusting to the NFL game on the fly. Mike Williams is a great free agent signing, as he can provide Rodgers with a reliable veteran target with sideline skills.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints suddenly find themselves in a competitive NFC South. With Kirk Cousins joining the Falcons and the Buccaneers bringing the whole gang back, the Saints will need to show some massive improvements if they want to make the playoffs for the first time in the post-Brees Era. Derek Carr isn’t good enough to carry a team all on his own, but he has the talent to succeed in the right environment. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are both reliable players, but adding Mike Williams as a free agent will give Carr a much-needed third target in the offense.
Main Photo: Christopher Hannewinc – USA Today Sports
