The Los Angeles Chargers officially released veteran wide receiver Mike Williams on Wednesday, marking an end to his seven-year run in Southern California.
Williams is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in Week 3 last season, but he’s expected to be healthy for 2024 as he searches for a new home.
For seven years, Williams made up an electric one-two punch with fellow Chargers receiver Keenan Allen and recorded two 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and ‘21.
Now that he’s available on the open market, which NFL teams could sign him in free agency? Let’s dive in:
Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes agreed to restructure his contract Tuesday, freeing up over $21 million of salary-cap space this offseason. Kansas City certainly could use that to sign Williams to a short-term deal.
The defending champion Chiefs desperately need help at wide receiver. Rookie Rashee Rice led all Kansas City wideouts with 79 catches last year. No other wide receiver caught more than 27 passes.
Although they’ll probably address the position early in the NFL draft, the Chiefs’ receivers room could use a consistent veteran like Williams.
New York Jets
Garrett Wilson is the undisputed No. 1 option in the Jets’ passing game, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s longtime buddies Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb didn’t exactly get the job done last season.
The Jets have yet to make a significant move in free agency. Maybe Williams is the answer.
That is, of course, only if Rodgers plans to play quarterback in the fall rather than join the presidential election race.
New England Patriots
If the Patriots stand pat at the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and select one of the top three available quarterbacks, it would make sense for them to add another veteran receiver to surround their new franchise cornerstone.
The Patriots re-signed Kendrick Bourne this week, but he’s not quite 2007 Randy Moss. Williams would be a great addition to help support a young quarterback trying to learn on the fly.
Chicago Bears
Speaking of young quarterbacks, the Bears also could use a veteran receiver—regardless if they decide to run it back with Justin Fields or draft USC’s Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick.
DJ Moore emerged as a explosive option in the passing game last season, racking up 96 catches for 1,364 yards. It’s easy to imagine a Moore-Williams duo take off in Chicago, reminiscent of Williams’s longtime partnership with Allen in Los Angeles.
New York Giants
The Giants’ receiving corps need so much help that tight end Darren Waller is considering retirement.
Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson led the Giants’ receivers last year while catching passes from viral sensation Tommy DeVito.
The Giants might be done with the Daniel Jones experiment at quarterback, but they could use some help on the outside.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals appear set to select the top receiver in the 2024 NFL draft—most likely Marvin Harrison Jr.—with the No. 4 pick. Adding Williams to the mix could be a solid addition to quarterback Kyler Murray’s offense, especially if Marquise Brown—the Cardinals’ top wide receiver in ’23—signs elsewhere in free agency.
