The New York Jets have just made a significant addition to their offense, signing former Los Angeles Chargers wideout Mike Williams to a one-year deal. Reportedly, Williams will earn up to $15 million in 2024.
After being released by the Chargers, Williams became a hot commodity and had a number of teams interested in him. He was scheduled to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers later this week, but the Jets didn’t want to take any risks and ended up signing him a contract on the spot.
During his introductory press conference, Williams said that he believes the Jets are a great fit for him, and he was also attracted by the opportunity to play with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“I just felt like it was a great fit for me. Aaron, I want to be able to play with him, pick his brain, learn from him,” said Williams. “The running game is pretty good. Defense is elite, so I just feel like we got a pretty good opportunity ahead of us.”
The Jets were interested in Williams during the 2022 offseason when he was set to become a free agent. However, the Chargers didn’t let that happen and signed him to a three-year, $60 million extension at the time.
Adding Williams addresses one of the biggest needs for the Jets ahead of next season. They have 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson as their No. 1 wideout but needed a proven No. 2 option after last season’s big free-agency acquisition Allen Lazard underperformed.
Mike Williams was the Chargers’ seventh overall pick in 2017. Over the course of his time in the NFL, he made 309 catches for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns.
