The New Orleans Saints sit at 2-4 with a plethora of important injuries that continue to mount. They still believe they can get back into the playoff picture, though. If they decide to buy at the trade deadline, wide receiver may be a position they attack.
Mike Williams is a veteran wideout for the New York Jets. The Jets are planning to make the receiver available for trade, according to Jordan Schultz.
According to Dianna Russini, the Saints have reached out to the Jets regarding Williams.
Mike Williams' fit with the Saints
Does it makes sense? Can he actually help Spencer Rattler and the offense in the near future?
The short answer is yes. Williams has never been the most impressive separator, but he's a good target at the catch point for big plays. For the Saints, they're dealing with injuries to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
They aren't sure how long either will be out of commission. Olave has a concussion. Shaheed has a knee issue that he is getting checked out this week.
Accordingly, adding wide receiver depth may be on their radar over the next two weeks.
With some notable guys missing for the Saints in their downfield passing game, Williams is a fit for the type of receiver they may look to add. Mason Tipton has some intriguing potential with his speed and elusiveness, but he does not possess the size of the veteran wideout.
A to Z's own Wendell Ferreira gave me a bit more insight into the potential fit of Williams in New Orleans. There are a multitude of notable factors involved.
I do think it's an intriguing proposition for the Saints. Mike Williams has not been good this year, with the worst number in yards per route run (0.94) he's had since his rookie season in 2017. That being said, we know how Aaron Rodgers likes to throw to the players he trusts, and Allen Lazard has unsurprisingly been that guy behind (and sometimes even ahead of) Garrett Wilson.
Williams will always be seen with the lens of a failed top 10 draft pick, but he is a good role player. In 2023, his last year for the Chargers, he had 2.33 yards per route run, a career high for him. So he's not washed.
Sure, he is not a volume guy, and has had more than 100 targets in a season only once, in 2021. But as a role piece behind Chris Olave, especially with an aggressive quarterback while rookie Spencer Rattler is playing, he is a fine deep-threat option. And he's particularly intriguing if Rashid Shaheed misses some time. -- Ferreira
How the money works for Williams, Saints
New Orleans has limited cap space with just over $2M currently. That hamstrung them in the Davante Adams pursuit, but it won't when it comes to Williams.
He would be a cheap addition for the rest of this season. Williams is one a one-year deal, so he will be a free agent in the upcoming offseason.
Even better for the Saints and their cap situation, most of Williams' contract is a signing bonus. Therefore, New Orleans would absorb only a proration of his $1.255 million base salary, which would be $812k right now or $664k at the trade deadline. It's still unclear how much the Jets want in draft compensation, but the risk-reward seems attractive for a buyer. -- Ferreira
When it comes to compensation for New York, they cannot be asking for much. Since acquiring Davante Adams, Williams has been pushed to WR4 on the depth chart. Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson are both ahead of him.
We will see how active New Orleans is before the deadline. Their win or loss against the Denver Broncos in Week 7 could decide the route they choose to go down when it comes to wheeling and dealing.
Related: Saints receive some good news for their offense days before game against Sean Payton
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