For the second time this year, Mike Williams has generated trade discussions. Months after talks in March, he is not attached to a high-end contract a team is desperate to move. Though, the team that authorized Williams’ 2022 deal is back in on the suddenly available wide receiver.
The Chargers are among the teams to have inquired with the Jets on Williams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who reports the Saints and Steelers have reached out on the eighth-year veteran as well. Following their Davante Adams acquisition, the Jets are prepared to move on from Williams.
No move is expected this week, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds Williams would be open with being moved out of New York. Although he has not assimilated too well into the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers-orchestrated offense — to the point the four-time MVP was critical of his route on a late-game interception — enough teams are still in need at the position that a deal should be made eventually. The Jets have until Nov. 5 to move on via trade.
The Bolts dangled Williams in trades just before the 2024 league year began, attempting to move his $20MM-per-year contract to reach cap compliance. They ended up doing so via release, cutting the Clemson alum before trading Keenan Allen to the Bears. The Patriots were linked to Williams at the time, before becoming tied to a few other receivers, but it is not known if New England is back in on the former top-10 pick. Williams, 30, however, is generating interest from other clubs who have been linked to WRs this year.
Pittsburgh joined New England in the Brandon Aiyuk market, beating out other suitors in agreeing to trade framework with San Francisco. Although the Steelers waited out that situation for weeks, Aiyuk signed a 49ers extension. This left Pittsburgh thin at receiver, with no clear complement to George Pickens emerging through six games. Known more for trading wideouts for draft picks rather than acquiring them, the Steelers have been scouring the market since Aiyuk ultimately passed. Omar Khan‘s team, however, was in on Adams. Though, the three-year Raiders wideout had been more interested in reuniting with Rodgers or Derek Carr.
Lacking the cap space to take on Adams’ contract without significant payroll adjustments, the Saints ended up seeing the Jets do so. After starting 2-0, New Orleans has lost four straight. The team is also heading into its Thursday-night matchup with Denver down both its top pass catchers. Chris Olave is in concussion protocol, and Rashid Shaheed is undergoing an exploratory meniscus surgery that leaves the rest of his season in doubt. With HC Dennis Allen‘s job on the line and GM Mickey Loomis 0-for-7 in playoff appearances without Sean Payton (the first four misses coming during the Aaron Brooks years), it makes sense the Saints are looking into available wideouts.
Jim Harbaugh‘s new Bolts regime bailed on Williams, doing so as he was rehabbing a torn ACL. The 6-foot-4 playmaker had battled injuries in Los Angeles but was available enough to post two 1,000-yard seasons alongside Allen. The younger of Justin Herbert‘s two long-running targets, Williams also totaled 895 receiving yards in 13 games in 2022. A back injury sustained in a meaningless Week 18 game in Denver sidelined Williams for the Chargers’ wild-card game in Jacksonville, which turned into a historic collapse. He then suffered the ACL injury in Week 3 of last season.
Harbaugh’s squad looked into other veteran receivers following Allen and Williams’ exits, eventually drafting Ladd McConkey early in the second round. Herbert has gone from a high-octane passer to a carefully managed option in Greg Roman‘s run-oriented offense. A familiar face returning could jumpstart the standout quarterback, but it is unclear if the Bolts are prepared to pay the roughly $3MM remaining of Williams’ 2024 salary. The rest of Williams’ money on a one-year, $10MM Jets deal has either been paid out in salary or is tied up in void years that will create a bit of dead money if/when the wideout is traded.
Williams was listed as a non-practice participant for a personal reason Wednesday. This presumably pertains to his status on the trade block. The trade candidate, however, did resurface at the Jets’ facility Thursday, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
Before Williams slipped on the MetLife Stadium turf, leading to a crucial Taron Johnson INT, he had caught only 10 passes for 145 yards in six Jets games. He may well be done in a Jets uniform, but the team would technically still have the option of playing him after Adams debuts (which is expected this weekend). That said, it would surprise if Williams remained a Jet for too much longer.
Lol Steelers bargain bin shopping as always.. Rooneys = Nuttings
Fans love to play Sportsball Mashup just as sportsball media do.
He allowed Khan to go after Aiyuk and actually came to an agreement; that’s the opposite of bargain bin shopping. Then they inquired on Adams, which the Jets probably overpaid a bit on so I don’t really see how Rooney is cheap. He’s trying to get someone in the building.
Aiyuk he wanted to pay after he has never been a top option on his tam. Awful call. Should’ve never traded Johnson and they wouldn’t need any body! Inquiring on a player means nothing. They can ask about Myles Garrett too, doesn’t mean they’re trying to actually acquire him. It’s actually EXACTLY what Nutting does. He once inquired on Davis Price, was never happening, but it made fans talk about it and act like they were doing something. That’s all this is. They’ll end up with another Van Jefferson, if any body at all.
name one player the Steelers let leave in their prime or traded away for salary reasons…
you’re juxtaposition is flat at best.
this is a team that needed an ILB and QB this offseason and signed the top ILB and got 2 notable QBs
you could even argue that they were so focused on landing Aiyuk that it held them back from persuing lessor options.
I don’t see how they compare to the Pirates in any single way
Lol. Mike Wallace, Le’Veon Bell, Diontae Johnson just to quickly name a few over the years. They got 2 QB’s who are notable because they stunk at their last stop. And like they say if you got 2 QBs you got none. Really notable would’ve been Cousins. A real shot at winning would’ve been Cousins. Patrick Queen has been legitimately invisible this season, I’m not going to pat them on the back because they signed a guy who stinks.
Queen = Rowdy Tellez. A signing based off what he did in the past on a better team with more help.
Wilson & Fields = Marco Gonzales & Martin Perez. Innings eaters that offer really no high ceiling. Their best offseason signing was a punter who got his season ruined game 1….
I live here. I see it day in and day out. They are literally the Pirates. This team told guys like Hines Ward (overrated) and Troy Polamalu to retire and stick a one franchise guy or go somewhere else. The history is blatant.
Wallace and Bell ended up being good passes.
let alone they gave the Wallace contract to AB ,
and offered Bell more than he dumbly ended up getting from the Jets.
I just think your argument is ridiculous.
comparing Patrick Queen who’s a top ILB in the NFL to journeyman Rowdy Tellez is laughable
the QBs are more comparable to a solid #3 SP than the two spot starters you mentioned
Back with Herbert would be Mikes best option though reckon the decision rests with GM Rodgers and compensation.
probably be the best WR on the Steelers
Being they missed on Davante, this would be a solid low-cost move for the Saints. With the injuries, they badly need WR help.
Ya even if this is the corpse of washed Williams, he’d still probably be their best option as a Shaheed replacement.