NY Jets 'think very highly' of Mike Williams as a free-agent target

The NY Jets are expected to be heavily active in the wide receiver market in free agency this year, and that applies to plays who haven't even hit the open market yet.

Not only will the Jets explore players on expiring contracts, but there's also keeping a close eye on potential cap casualties over the coming days. One such player who could generate interest is Mike Williams.

The former Los Angeles Chargers first-round pick is widely expected to be released prior to the start of free agency next month. The cap-strapped Chargers would save a whopping $20 million by releasing him, making this an easy decision for the team.

The Jets are expected to have interest in Williams once he's released. SNY's Connor Hughes reported on Wednesday that the Jets "think very highly of him" and that he's someone he "could see the Jets going after."

Mike Williams might be worth the risk for the NY Jets

The seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Williams has battled injuries throughout his time with the Chargers, but when healthy, he's been among the better wide receivers in football.

Williams fits the exact archetype the Jets should be searching for. He's a big-bodied, downfield threat whose physicality would complement Garrett Wilson in the Jets' offense nicely.

The biggest issue with Williams has been health. The former Clemson star has battled recurring back issues in the NFL and played in just three games last season before tearing his ACL.

That said, though he's been frequently banged up, Williams did appear in 15 or more games every year between 2018 and 2021. That allowed him to register multiple 1,000-yard seasons in the Chargers' high-powered passing attack.

The wide receiver market has already begun to dwindle this offseason, with the likes of Mike Evans, Davante Adams, Michael Pittman Jr., and possibly even Tee Higgins all expected to remain with their current teams.

Players like Calvin Ridley and Marquise Brown have emerged as the top expected free-agent wide receivers, and they're expected to receive hefty paydays as a result. That's why a player like Williams should interest the Jets.

Williams will turn 30 years old in October, and given his injury history, it's unlikely he commands the same long-term, expensive contract that Ridley and Brown might. He's a risk — but it might be a risk worth taking.

Don't be surprised if the Jets make a push to sign Williams in free agency once he's inevitably released.