Browns are pursuing $60 million wide receiver Deshaun Watson, an old teammate.
This summer, the Cleveland Browns are on the market for a wide receiver. Although they want a player with a high-end skill set and a track record, they also need someone who can be signed at a price that will not put the team at significant financial danger.
It’s a very difficult line to walk for any franchise to find proven players with something left to give at a premium position and on a team-friendly deal, so there will be inherent risk if the Browns choose to try. But Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers is a name that might be worth a shot.
Williams, 29, only appeared in three games last season due to an ACL tear that he sustained early in 2023. Nevertheless, according to Pro Football Reference, he has accumulated over 4,800 receiving yards during his seven-year NFL career (83 games played) and has had two seasons with 1,000 or more yards (2019, 2021).
In an interview with Dave Bacon of Sports 4 CLE on Thursday, February 8, NFL expert Quincy Carrier claimed that Williams is the kind of No. 2 option that Browns supporters have been waiting a long time to have with Amari Cooper.
Carrier remarked, “We’ve seen Mike Williams produce.” “We’ve witnessed him murder the Cleveland Browns a few times.”
He went on, “The Browns aren’t trying to develop a talent to be another wide receiver for them at this point.” “Someone simply has to step up and start producing.” In that situation, you should go with someone you know is capable of producing because they have experience with it.
Williams, WR for the Chargers Most Likely to Launch in March
Not everything that is speculative during the NFL offseason is realistic. But Williams isn’t some unrealized Cleveland fantasy.
By deferring portion of Deshaun Watson’s $64 million 2024 cap hit in the form of dead money, the team may free up about $33 million in space. By extending Cooper, who would otherwise count roughly $24 million against the limit next season, Cleveland can also create space immediately.
Despite the $32.5 million cap burden Williams represents in Los Angeles in the final year of his $60 million contract, the Browns might not need to put in all or any of that work to acquire him.
Carrier stated, “Mike Williams is going to be available.” He recently suffered an ACL tear, thus the Chargers are unlikely to take a chance on his $30 million cap cost. And I believe he is getting near to 28 or 30 years old, or around. They will, therefore, let go of him.
Carrier brought up the prospect of Williams being traded by the Browns or by another team. That doesn’t make sense, though, because the receiver will be much more affordable if you wait for the Chargers to cut him during the summer.
“I don’t believe the cost would be that high. so he will be in the world of one-year prove-it deals,” Carrier remarked. “Those are the kinds of deals the Browns can make with these guys right now—quick, short-term deals.”
Mike Williams and Browns quarterback QB Have College Connection Deshaun Watson
On other grounds, Williams makes sense in Cleveland. First of all, he was once romantically involved with Watson, having been Clemson teammates.
“Carrier stated on Thursday that Williams has a great deal of experience working with Deshaun Watson, having won a national championship with him at Clemson, so he knows how to adapt to his playing style.” Furthermore, I believe that running offensive ideas isn’t the only way to increase Deshaun Watson’s familiarity. It also involves a few staff members.
Beyond that, Carrier noted that Browns supporters are searching for someone with a solid track record to rely on because they are tired of the supposed promise of receivers. Williams possesses that. Additionally, Cleveland presumably only needs to commit one year to bring him in anyhow if injuries get in the way, which lowers the risk but doesn’t completely eliminate it.
Carrier remarked, “I think a lot of Browns fans are burnt out on wagering on the ideal of certain wide receivers.” “With Anthony Schwartz, we succeeded. We managed it with a few inexperienced people. Then Elijah Moore joined us. And I believe that people are more interested in the productive wide receiver than in the player who, with enough patience, might develop into a productive player in the future.
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