WR Mike Williams key addition for win-now Jets, Aaron Rodgers،
FLORHAM PARK, NJ – Somewhere in Malibu, Calif. – or wherever he is this week – New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is smiling.
His bosses in New Jersey, in the span of nine days, beefed up his supporting cast in an all-out, intense effort to add a companion to the Super Bowl III trophy that — in Rodgers' words — has “the looking a little lonely” in the team window.
The latest addition came Tuesday with the news that former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams had signed a one-year contract that could be worth up to $15 million.
Rodgers is 40 years old, so there is no building for the future. General manager Joe Douglas, put on alert recently by owner Woody Johnson, is filling holes with big-name players whose free agent market was depressed due to durability concerns.
That's how he landed the eighth Pro Bowl left tackle, Tyron Smith, 33, who signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract (with an additional $13.5 million available in incentives) Friday. That's how he got Williams, 29, who underwent left ACL surgery six months ago and surely has plenty of playing time incentives in his contract.
The hope is that Williams and Smith can overcome age and injuries to become what they once were, teaming up with a presumably healthy Rodgers to make last season's nightmare disappear. The Jets, who got four plays against Rodgers before his left Achilles gave way, finished 29th in scoring and 31st in yards last season.
Their offensive scheme consisted primarily of a backup quarterback (pick one, anyone) forcing passes to wide receiver Garrett Wilson or throwing checks to running back Breece Hall. They needed another weapon to take the pressure off Wilson. That led them to Williams, whose size (6-foot-4) and ability to win contested balls should be a good complement to the speedy and slippery Wilson.
“As far as the receiver room goes, we have some good young guys and some great veterans,” Wilson said after the season. “But I think another infusion of someone who would bring something different to the table and give the defense something to worry about, that would be beneficial for everyone, not just me.”
Wilson was a diplomat. In reality, the receiver room was filled with question marks, none bigger than that of Allen Lazard, who landed on the bench after signing a four-year, $44 million contract in free agency. Because of this mistake, Douglas had to re-enter the market for Williams.
“If he’s healthy, he’s a starter, but more like No. 2,” said an AFC personnel director. “This seems like a solid move for the Jets – if he’s healthy.”
Williams missed 18 games over the past two seasons, including the Chargers' playoff loss in 2022. His numbers were average in 2022 (63 catches, 895 yards and four touchdowns). He hasn't been an impact player since 2021, when he posted career highs in catches (76) and receiving yards (1,146).
It's a stretch to think he can get back to that level after three years and surgery, but the Jets don't need him to be the star of the show. They have Wilson and Hall to take care of it. They need Williams to be a complementary player that Rodgers can count on.
Based on past performance, this should be a productive union. Since 2018, his sophomore year, Williams leads the NFL with an average of 15.8 yards per reception, based on a minimum of 200 catches. From 2018 to 2022, Rodgers led the league with 6,387 passing yards targeting vertical routes, according to Next Gen Stats.
With Wilson and Williams on the outside and with Hall a dual threat in the backfield, the Jets can attack all areas of the field. The last time they fielded two receivers with resumes that included 1,000-yard seasons was in 2016, with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. They have a solid tight end in Tyler Conklin, but they could add some firepower at the position by drafting someone like Georgia's Brock Bowers with the 10th overall pick, which ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said projected in his final mock draft on Tuesday.
As a result, Douglas has a lot of flexibility with this choice. By signing Williams and adding Smith, right tackle Morgan Moses and left guard John Simpson, Douglas addressed the most pressing needs on offense. Now he can sit back and pick the best player, whether it's Bowers or another tackle or receiver if one of the top three prospects slides — Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze from Washington.
Bottom line: Rodgers' supporting cast is better than it was a year ago. It's an older group, with plenty of one-year deals (and injuries), but there's only one year that matters for the Jets winning.
