ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote an impressive and interesting piece on potential landing spots for players with NFL’s Offseason Dominoes. His piece simulates the chain reactions that can be dictated by one’s decision on the open market.
Although it doesn’t contain any scenarios where the Chargers land any free agents or potential trade options, there are a few that see two of their own players — wide receiver Tyrell Williams and cornerback Jason Verrett fall on a new team.
After breaking out in the 2016 season after losing WR Keenan Allen to a season-ending injury, Williams has yet to duplicate that year. He finished his campaign with 41 receptions for 653 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Despite the fact that he failed to post a prolific season compared to some other wideouts in the league, he’s entering the offseason as one of the top available players at the position, which means that he will be seeking a No. 1 wide receiver type of money.
As far as Verrett, he broke out in his second season as a Charger, amassing 12 passes defensed and three interceptions. He was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl for his efforts. Since then, injuries have prevented him from seeing the field for a full season in three consecutive years.
With that, let’s take a look at what Barnwell can see going down within the next couple months.
WR Tyrell Williams
Williams signs a four-year, $56 million deal with the Bills
With the Bills lacking deep-threat options for Josh Allen, Tyrell Williams looms as an obvious fit. The former undrafted free agent has 11 touchdowns on deep passes over the past three seasons, which ties him for the seventh most in the league. If the money seems high, well, look at the rest of the receiver market.
Williams signs a four-year, $52 million deal with the Browns
Cleveland already handed Jarvis Landry a five-year, $75.5 million deal, but with nearly $79 million in cap space, it can afford a luxury weapon for Baker Mayfield. Tyrell Williams‘ downfield ability would be a great contrast to Landry and give the Browns a better deep threat than free agent Breshad Perriman.
Williams signs a four-year, $60 million deal with the Jets
The Jets already have Robby Anderson, who ended the season well, but inconsistency and off-field concerns might lead them to pursue a more stable deep threat in Tyrell Williams. Something north of $30 million in guarantees might be enough to convince the Western Oregon product to swap L.A. for NYC.
CB Jason Verrett
Jason Verrett lands a one-year deal with incentives from Philly
There might not be any player in the league who has been through more injuries in recent years than Verrett, who made the Pro Bowl in 2015 before missing 43 of his next 48 games. Philly needs to find cheap cornerback help with Ronald Darby leaving and can take a flier at a $1 million base.
