Wide receiver Mike Williams is heading back to Chargers on one-year deal

Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times on Mar 12, 2025

Published in Football

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LOS ANGELES — Mike Williams is running a comeback route.

A year after being released by the Chargers, the team announced Wednesday it agreed to terms with the wide receiver. Williams will return on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to Fox Sports.

A first-round pick in 2017, Williams caught 309 passes for 4,806 yards in seven seasons with the Chargers. But the Chargers released him last year to save $20 million in their effort to become salary-cap compliant. He signed with the New York Jets, but the pairing with Aaron Rodgers never blossomed and he was traded mid-season to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chargers have been looking for help on offense during free agency but struck out with other top receiver targets during the initial flurry of signings. Pass-catching tight end Evan Engram signed with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday. Chris Godwin re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Davante Adams chose the Rams.

After 32-year-old DeAndre Hopkins signed with the Baltimore Ravens for a reported one-year, $6 million contract, Williams' position in the market became clearer. The veteran receiver missed all but three games in 2023 after a season-ending knee injury and is coming off his quietest season not shortened by injury since his rookie campaign.

But the 6-foot-4, 218-pound Williams can still be a potent deep threat for the Chargers, who are looking for a reliable counterpart to rookie sensation Ladd McConkey. McConkey set franchise rookie records with 82 catches for 1,149 yards receiving.