There was a clear lack of big plays from the Rams offense last season, with more than one area to blame. The play calling was conservative, the wide receivers weren’t threats to stretch the field and Jared Goff was reluctant to take shots deep when he did get time.
With Matthew Stafford coming aboard as the new quarterback in L.A., there should be a rise in downfield throws. If the Rams are looking for a deep threat at wide receiver, a good one just became available thanks to the Raiders’ roster trimming. On Wednesday, Las Vegas released Tyrell Williams just two years into a four-year deal.
Williams, 29, missed the 2020 season with a shoulder injury, landing him on IR in September. The Raiders got one good season out of him, though, when he caught 42 passes for 651 yards and six touchdowns, a healthy average of 15.5 yards per reception – the fourth straight year he’s averaged at least 15 yards per catch.
Williams isn’t necessarily a burner, but he did run a 4.42 before the 2015 draft. That’s even more impressive when you consider his size at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. That’s a combination of size and speed that the Rams don’t currently have, which makes him a great target as a free agent.
He’s a legitimate deep threat who can force secondaries to respect downfield throws, as we saw both in 2019 and previously with the Chargers. Here’s an example of Williams winning a one-on-one route to the post for a big gain with an over-the-shoulder grab.
Calling long distance.@derekcarrqb 📲 @TyrellWilliams_ #RaiderNation | #DENvsOAK pic.twitter.com/937FjPJvvJ
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 10, 2019
With the length that he has, he can win contested-catch situations – another area of weakness for the Rams’ receivers. As a member of the Chargers, Williams somehow pulled down this deep throw from Philip Rivers for a touchdown.
It wasn’t quite the Kyler Murray-to-DeAndre Hopkins Hail Mary, but it was quite the impressive grab in traffic.
Triple coverage? No problem for Chargers WR Tyrell Williams.
(Via @Chargers) pic.twitter.com/l0rHFTrxDm
— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl) October 14, 2018
He showed off that physicality on this catch two seasons ago, too. On this catch over the middle, Williams breaks a tackle and turns what should’ve been a 10-yard gain into a 41-yard touchdown.
The Rams’ receivers are really good after the catch, too, but they don’t play with the strength or physicality that Williams does – mostly because they’re not 6-foot-4 like he is.
He hit 'em with the high step!@TyrellWilliams_ strikes first in #JAXvsOAK. pic.twitter.com/bHoj3OegPv
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 15, 2019
Williams would be a perfect WR3 in Los Angeles, splitting time with Van Jefferson behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. And because he was released, not only can he be signed at any time, but he also won’t factor into the compensatory pick formula.
For the right price, he’s absolutely someone the Rams should look at once they get their financial situation in order. Stafford loves receivers who can win contested catches downfield (see: Calvin Johnson, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones) and Williams is a player who can do that.
