Mike Williams, an experienced wide receiver, became a free agency moments before the 2024 New League Year began on Wednesday when the Chargers released him.
Making these choices is never simple, particularly for a successful player like Williams, who was well-liked in the locker room for his toughness on the field and his charisma off it.
Joe Hortiz, the general manager of the Chargers, stated that there was "some work to be done" about the Bolts salary cap position when he first met with the media in early February.
Williams' release makes sense in light of that work. The Bolts will save $20 million on their 2024 salary ceiling after letting Williams go, according to Over the ceiling.
With contracts expiring in 2024 from Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, and Derius Davis, the Chargers still have depth at wide receiver.
Additionally, there's always a chance that the Chargers add to that space through the draft or free agency.
Under new wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who has improved his position group everywhere he's been in his nearly 20-year NFL tenure, I expect the wide receiver group to flourish.
Williams, who was selected seventh overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, was a star for the Bolts at one point. Now, they will just have to make due without him.
With the Chargers, he played in 88 games during which he caught 309 passes for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Williams also gave us a lot of unforgettable moments, the most thrilling of which being the 2018 Thursday Night Football road victory over the Chiefs.
With Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert, Williams offered a big-play threat, but injuries had sadly limited him in recent seasons.
In his career, he has only participated in one complete season. Over the last two seasons, he has missed several games, including the Bolts Wild Card playoff game after the 2022 season.
Williams also just recovered from an ACL tear he sustained in the third week of the 2023 campaign.
Although losing Williams is difficult for a variety of reasons, the Chargers were better off doing this now and in the future, especially considering the Bolts' financial predicament and Jim Harbaugh's apparent desire to boost the run game.