Chargers WR Mike Williams: Staying with Justin Herbert 'was huge'

The Los Angeles Chargers did well to prevent star wide receiver Mike Williams from hitting free agency when the new league year opens next week by signing him to a three-year contract that reportedly includes $40 million in guaranteed money and that could be worth $60 million when all is said and done. 

Cash was likely a huge factor in Williams' final decision, but, as the cliche teaches, money is not all that matters in such negotiations. 

Williams posted the best numbers of his NFL career, to date, playing alongside second-year quarterback Justin Herbert during the 2021 season. Per ESPN stats, the 27-year-old led the Chargers with 1,146 receiving yards and nine touchdown grabs, and he was second on the team with 76 catches and 129 targets. As Josh Alper noted for Pro Football Talk, Williams credited having Herbert as a teammate for influencing his call to sign with the Chargers. 

"Just to be with a quarterback who’s a franchise quarterback and who’s able to get me the ball, that was huge," Williams explained. 

According to ESPN stats, Herbert finished this past season second in the NFL behind only Tom Brady with 5,014 passing yards, third with 38 touchdown passes, and third with a total QBR of 65.6, behind only Brady (68.1) and NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers (69.1) in that category. The sky seemingly is the limit for the 23-year-old with a rocket arm, especially now that he knows he'll have Williams as a weapon moving forward.