Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams isn’t slated to be a free agent this year, but that doesn’t mean he will be on the roster next season.
Los Angeles elected to pick up Williams’ 2021 fifth-year team option last May, meaning he is set to be due $15.7 million in 2021.
With the cap dropping due to COVID-19, Williams’ cap hit would be the 10th-highest cap hit for any receiver for 2021 — more than Vikings’ Adam Thielen, Bills’ Stefon Diggs and Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins.
Williams would then have the third-highest cap hit of any player on the roster next season, trailing only edge defender Joey Bosa and wide receiver Keenan Allen.
You can make a strong argument for that being too much money for a receiver who has not played like a top-10 receiver, failing to surpass 50 catches, has just seven touchdowns over the past two seasons and has dealt with a slew of injuries along the way.
The argument for keeping Williams is that he is well-liked as a person, he is one of the hardest workers on the team, showing the ability to play through the injuries and there aren’t many receivers that possess the athletic profile that he does at his size.
The Chargers will have some options.
L.A. could sign Williams to an extension that is more in line with his production, given the team’s healthy cap situation, or they could rescind the fifth-year option or possibly trade him and look for a No. 2 receiver in the draft or via free agency.
Los Angeles has until the start of the league year in March to finalize their decision.