Jets signing Mike Williams in major NFL free agency splash
Mike Williams was the result of the Jets’ second attempt to get a No. 2 receiver to complement Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson.
Williams and the Jets reached an agreement on a one-year contract that could potentially be worth up to $15 million, according to The Post.
He made the decision to postpone his meetings with the Steelers and Panthers after touring the team’s facility on Tuesday.
The Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich, a staple of New Jersey breakfasts, that one ingenious fan ordered and had DoorDash bring to the facility may have been the deciding factor for Williams.
The Jets’ X, formerly Twitter, account cooperated throughout.
It’s more likely that Williams was drawn to the opportunity to catch passes from Rodgers since he was spoiled by quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Philip Rivers during his seven seasons with the Chargers.
In addition, Williams will get the opportunity to line up opposite the budding sensation Wilson, which shouldn’t present a problem given that he managed to be effective (31 career touchdowns) while sharing a receiving corps with six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen.
Williams, 29, had a strong start to the season with 19 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown in three games before suffering a torn ACL on September 24, 2023.
Prior to the rebuilding Chargers cutting him last week amid a broad salary-cap purge, he was due $20 million this season.
Williams is no stranger to injuries; over his career, he has also missed games due to back, hamstring, ankle, and shoulder problems.
Expert at keeping the ball in the air, he recorded career highs of 76 receptions for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021 when he remained healthy.
The 6-foot-4 Williams is one of the NFL’s top deep threats if he can recover his full speed after his ACL tear.
He gained 421 receiving yards over expected on vertical routes — a total surpassed only by Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams — from 2018-22, according to NextGenStats.
The Jets scored the fewest offensive touchdowns (18) in the NFL last season and averaged the third-fewest passing yards per game (171.7).
Rodgers’ return from a torn Achilles to replace the quarterback carousel is the big fix, but there was a need to upgrade the receiving corps, too.
Wilson has 178 catches for 2,145 yards and seven touchdowns over his first two seasons despite no other wideout topping 536 yards in either season.
The possibilities for Wilson should expand as Williams — who leads the NFL with 15.9 yards per catch since 2018 — clears out space.
“To find another threat,” head coach Robert Saleh said after last season, “so teams can’t just go off and double-team Garrett will be very important.”
The Jets thought they accomplished that goal last offseason by signing Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million contract.