The New York Jets are signing free agent wide receiver Williams to a one-year contract, before he had been set to meet with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Steelers had bee set to host wide receiver Mike Williams on a visit this week, according to a report by Jordan Schultz. But first, Williams was scheduled visit the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. He didn’t even get to his second stop on the list, signing a one-year deal with the Hets that is worth up to $15 million.
Williams, 29, has been with the Chargers since they selected him as the No. 7 overall pick out of Clemson in the 2017 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound receiver has been one of the top deep-ball threats in the NFL in his six pro seasons, but injuries have slowed his production in the last two years.
Williams got his start as a big-time deep threat. In 2019, he led the NFL in yards per reception at 20.4, and his average depth of target was absurdly 17.8 yards. Williams had his most productive season in 2021, when he caught 76 passes for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns.
In 2022, he missed four regular-season games with ankle injuries and then suffered a small fracture in his back, causing him to miss the Chargers’ playoff game. Last year, Williams tore his ACL in Week 3, ending his season.
The Chargers released Williams as part of a salary purge the team needed to get cap compliant.
The Steelers have released veteran slot receiver Allen Robinson II and traded star outside receiver Diontae Johnson this month, leaving the team very needy at the wide receiver position, even after the club signed veteran Van Jefferson.