At this time last season, the Raiders were getting ready to sign veteran wide receiver Tyrell Williams to a four-year deal worth $44 million contract. The idea was that Williams would be the perfect complement to a recently acquired Antonio Brown.
But after the Raiders released Brown before he ever played a game with the team, Williams was bumped up into the No.1 wide receiver role, something he had never done before in his NFL career. Williams finished the season with 651 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games. But considering his salary, he didn’t produce quite enough.
In a recent article by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, Williams was named the team’s most overpaid player entering free agency. Here is what Sobleski had to say about Williams and his contract.
The 28-year-old target didn’t produce to the level the Raiders needed. In fact, he finished third on the team with 42 receptions. Yes, he missed two games due to a foot injury, but his annual salary is still on the same level as those owed to Keenan Allen, Emmanuel Sanders, Tyler Boyd and Tyler Lockett.
An opportunity arose, and Williams didn’t exactly capture the moment. The Raiders front office, meanwhile, is still searching for help at wide receiver.
If the Raiders can find a No. 1 receiver in the draft, ideally at pick No. 12, Williams could back into his role as a complementary receiver and someone who just can focus on making plays down the field.
The Raiders don’t have many bad contracts on their books, but Williams’ deal might be the only one the team may regret. Luckily for him, he will get an opportunity in 2020 to show the Raiders why they made the right decision to sign him last offseason.
