The Chargers badly needed a field-stretching weapon after releasing Williams last offseason and never truly found one. Popper points out that Williams has a “built-in rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert from their four seasons together.” Williams would be a cheaper option than someone like Tee Higgins, who even if he is franchise tagged could be available in a trade. Williams could be a candidate for a rebound season after a whirlwind year where his one-year deal with the Jets evaporated and he found himself in Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.

Williams tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2023 season. The Jets, looking to add playmakers for Aaron Rodgers, took a flyer on the veteran wideout with a one-year, $10 million contract in the following offseason. Williams never found his footing in New York and was eventually thrown under the bus by Rodgers for running the wrong route in a Week 6 loss to Buffalo. The team traded him to Pittsburgh a few weeks later. Williams never amounted to much in Pittsburgh, peaking at three catches for 36 yards in a single game. He ended the season with 21 catches for 298 yards and one score across the two teams. The veteran wideout should have suitors in free agency this spring, but he appears to be much more of a role-player than a starting wide receiver at this point in his career.

Williams saw modest playing time even without alpha George Pickens and with Ben Skowronek departing early with injury, making it likely we fail to see useful fantasy scores emerge from the veteran receiver the rest of the 2024 season. Pickens appears likely to return to the active roster for a Week 17 showdown with the 14-1 Chiefs, adding to those expectations.