NFL
Jets signing Mike Williams in major NFL free agency splash
![Jets signing Mike Williams in major NFL free agency splash Jets signing Mike Williams in major NFL free agency splash](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/mike-williams-jets.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1710867541&w=1024)
The Jets’ second swing at landing a No. 2 receiver to team with Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson turned up Mike Williams.
Williams agreed to terms with the Jets, The Post confirmed, on a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $15 million.
He visited the team facility Tuesday and decided to cancel upcoming meetings with the Steelers and Panthers.
Maybe the deciding factor for Williams was the Taylor Ham, egg and cheese sandwich — a New Jersey breakfast staple — that one creative superfan ordered and had DoorDash deliver to the facility.
The Jets’ X, formerly Twitter, account played along from start to finish.
More likely it was the allure of catching passes from Rodgers after Williams was spoiled by quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert during his seven seasons with the Chargers.
Not to mention the chance to line up opposite the rising star Wilson, which shouldn’t be an issue for Williams after he found ways to be productive (31 career touchdowns) playing in the same receiving corps as six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen.
Williams, 29, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered on Sept. 24, 2023, after a hot start that included 19 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown in three games.
He was due $20 million this season before the rebuilding Chargers cut him last week during a widespread salary-cap purge.
Injuries are nothing new to Williams — who also has missed games with ankle, back, hamstring and shoulder issues throughout his career.
A master of securing the 50/50 ball, he set career highs of 76 catches for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns when he stayed healthy in 2021.
If the 6-foot-4 Williams regains full speed after his ACL tear, the Jets acquired one of the best deep threats in the NFL.
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.
But Lazard was a disappointment to the degree that he was a healthy scratch for two games.
Lazard should be better this season just by way of the rapport he built over four seasons with Rodgers on the Packers.
The 6-5 Lazard has plenty of experience as a big slot and as a complementary alternative to the younger, smaller, faster, less-proven Xavier Gipson.
The Raiders made another of Rodgers’ favorite targets — Davante Adams — unavailable for trade this offseason. Calvin Ridley Jr. was priced out of the Jets’ market before signing a four-year, $92 million free-agent deal with the Titans last week.
The Jets’ X account rallied Tuesday behind content creator @NYJ_Matt, who paid $21.32 — $8.50 for the breakfast sandwich plus taxes, fees and tip — to welcome Williams, who was seen on video taking a bite of the delicacy after signing.
Williams joked, “This what got the deal signed right here,’ and then headed off to courtside seats at the Nets-Pelicans game in Brooklyn.
All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner celebrated Williams’ addition with a “Yessirrrrrrr” tweet, three “love you” emojis and a Photoshop of Williams and the sandwich bag.
“If my gesture could increase the odds of him signing by 0.1 percent,” Matt, who declined to share his last name to keep it private from his employer, wrote to The Post, “I’m doing it every time.”
Well, free-agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is expected to visit Wednesday, so there is another opportunity lined up.
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