Mike Williams signing with New York Jets

Former Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams was scheduled to have visits with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers following his Tuesday meeting with the New York Jets. However, the Jets did not allow the former Pro Bowl wide receiver to leave the Big Apple without a deal.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Williams and the AFC’s New York franchise have agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

“Sources: Former #Chargers WR Mike Williams is signing with the #Jets on a 1-year deal worth up to $15M, another weapon for Aaron Rodgers. He’s on a visit there today,” said Rapoport via X.

Add Williams is a significant signing for the Jets. This gives New York another big-time playmaker on the outside to pair up with 2022 offensive rookie of the year Garrett Wilson. It also provides Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers another target. Not only that, it now gives New York some flexibility on what to do with their No. 10 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Maybe they add some additional help along the offensive line or possibly another elite pass-catching threat in the top tight end prospect, who is head and shoulders above the rest: Brock Bowers.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline comes the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.

More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents

Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match, that round’s pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.