$60 million wide receiver and former Los Angeles Charger, Mike Williams may land with the Carolina Panthers after he’s scheduled for a visit with the team this upcoming Tuesday. This isn’t the only visit he has this week, but he’s also on schedule to meet with the New York Jets on Monday, according to Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio. Williams has spent his entirety with the Chargers, notching 249 receiving yards and a touchdown last season dealing with an ACL injury that kept him out of action. Los Angeles released him earlier this week to clear the salary cap, saving them $20 million.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Chargers aren’t out of the picture yet of considering bringing Williams back to their team. Los Angeles doesn’t have a lot of weapons after trading their other star receiver, Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears. It took this trade for the Chargers to get under the salary cap, but now the only starting receivers they have that may be reliable are Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnson. The team also restructured the deals of their star pass-rushers, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa after rumors of trading them.
This is the first time that Williams has been a free agent in his seven-year career so he will test the market to explore his options before he may consider returning to the Chargers. Williams missed 18 games over the last two seasons, making him a liability for the team at the time to be able to afford a player with his salary. However, when healthy he has proven to be a playmaking threat to several defenses in his playing career. He posted two seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards.
🚨 UPDATE
Carolina Panthers are hosting former Chargers WR Mike Williams for a visit. pic.twitter.com/mqXUD6Xb7l
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) March 16, 2024
$60 Million Receiver Mike Williams May Land With the Carolina Panthers
Things May Be Shaping up for Bryce Young
Williams could transition smoothly to a newly revamped offense that’s looking to be shaping for their second-year quarterback Bryce Young. The Panthers are coming off a season with the league-worst record of 2-15. They could use a player like Williams to boost their offense further if he can remain healthy. It’ll complement veteran receivers like Adam Thielen and recently acquired Diontae Johnson.
The Panthers are wasting no time to get work done to surround with reliable pieces for Young. It was like throwing Young in the fire in his rookie year, but now he has some pass-catchers that may make them contenders. Carolina adding Williams would boost the team and may make things smooth for new head coach Dave Canales. The question is if Williams is willing to hit the reset button at this point in his career with the Panthers.
He may intrigued by teaming with Thielen and Johnson if he gets a huge payday, however, the Jets could creep up to snag him before meeting with the Panthers. The Jets have Aaron Rodgers coming back next season and it might be crunch time for Williams to look for a contender to get him his ring.
Other Potential Fits for Williams
There is a lot of buzz happening in New York after rumors are brewing that Williams may land with the Jets. They are solidifying their offensive line after acquiring former Dallas Cowboy Tyron Smith, the wide receiver position becomes the team’s ultimate need. The Rodgers injury last season set the team back, so the thing they want to avoid is playing the waiting game to look for reliable receivers for him. He may be the weapon that could be reliable for Rodgers in contested catch situations.
After putting Allen Lazard on the trade block, there could be a bigger chance of bringing Willaims to replace him. They have the same abilities but they could be making a big gamble on Williams following his injury track record. It would help open the field for Garrett Wilson, but if they bring back Lazard too then go to town. These three receivers would give Rodgers a return campaign and possibly AFC contenders.
