Jets, receiver Mike Williams agree to one-year deal, source says

Aaron Rodgers has a new big target who can stretch the field and Garrett Wilson has some help to keep the defensive focus off him.

Wide receiver Mike Williams signed a one-year contract with the Jets Tuesday worth up to $15 million, a league source said.

The Jets receiver room got much better with this acquisition and the offense more diverse. Receiver was a need that general manager Joe Douglas had to fill, and he landed the best free agent pass-catcher available.

Douglas has done a very good job thus far in free agency addressing the Jets’ weaknesses from last year. He strengthened and improved the offensive line, signed a proven veteran backup quarterback and now has given Rodgers another weapon.

The Chargers released Williams, 29, just before the start of free agency to become salary-cap compliant. Williams had dinner with Jets officials on Monday, toured the facility Tuesday and the two sides struck a deal.

The Jets were smart not to let Williams leave their building. He had visits scheduled with the Panthers and Steelers later this week. Not anymore.

Williams, who is 6-4 and 218 pounds, is a playmaker who can be used a number of ways. He’s a downfield threat who has the size to go up and snatch footballs in traffic and is a big target around the goal line. Williams is a perfect complement to Wilson and a legitimate Wide Receiver 2.

The seventh overall pick of the Chargers in 2017, Williams has caught 309 passes for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns while serving as a second option behind Keenan Allen. Williams has recorded more than 1,000 yards in a season twice. He led the NFL in yards per catch in 2019, averaging 20.4 that season.

Wiliams is returning from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 3. But the Jets apparently weren’t concerned. Williams underwent a physical with the Jets on Tuesday. He had 19 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown last year.

The addition of Williams will allow the Jets to do much more offensively and give them more balance. If the 40-year-old Rodgers can stay healthy, this offense could be explosive.

The Jets got little from their receiving corps outside of Wilson. He caught 95 passes for 1,052 yards and three touchdowns. The Jets’ next two leading receivers were versatile running back Breece Hall and tight end Tyler Conklin.

They signed Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million deal last offseason, believing he would be a productive No. 2 after Wilson. Lazard had a disappointing season. He caught 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown and was a healthy scratch twice. Having Williams should help Lazard’s production as well.

As of now, the Jets’ receiver room features Wilson, Williams, Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee, Irv Charles and Malik Taylor. The Jets likely are not done adding to that group. They could sign another veteran receiver or draft one.

The moves Douglas has made gives the Jets positional flexibility in the draft. They could take an offensive tackle with the No. 10 pick, a receiver or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who many project to be a star in the NFL.

This is an important year for Douglas and Robert Saleh. Jets owner Woody Johnson said the team has to win this year. Douglas is working to put the Jets in the best position to do that by making sure Rodgers has the protection and help he needs to be successful and help end the Jets’ 13-year playoff drought.

On paper, the Jets have a playoff-contending team, but staying healthy will be the key to everything.

Douglas rebuilt the offensive line last week, adding three new starters in eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith, right tackle Morgan Moses and left guard John Simpson. The Jets need depth up front so there should be more line moves coming.

The Jets still need to sign a backup running back, shore up the safety position and add an edge rusher to replace Bryce Huff. Veteran Jadeveon Clowney was flying in Tuesday to meet with the Jets on Wednesday. Perhaps they won’t let Clowney leave their building either.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.