Chargers Have A Tough Decision Regarding WR Mike Williams

The Los Angeles Chargers will have a new look in 2021 with new head coach Brandon Staley and a new offense under second-year QB Justin Herbert.

Another member of their offense, receiver Mike Williams, is heading for his fifth-year option, and the team will soon have to make a tough decision on whether to keep him.

At times Williams has looked like a star in the making, while other times injuries and inconsistent play have kept him on the sidelines.

The decision about Williams won't be an easy one, as the former first-round pick is due $15.68 million on the final year of his contract, a huge salary for a player who frankly isn't considered even a top-10 wide out in the game.

If the Chargers want to keep Williams, they will reportedly have the cap space to do it though, as the team will enter free agency with the ninth-most cap space in the league.

"You keep all options open," general manager Tom Telesco said Thursday, via the team's official transcript.

"Mike has done one heck of a job for us. I think he is a really, really high-level football player. The opportunities that he gets, he makes big plays for us.

"It's not necessarily his fault that he has Keenan Allen on one side, Hunter Henry at tight end and Austin Ekeler at running back, and there's only one football to go around. Mike is a very talented, high-level football player in this league."

In 15 games in 2020, Williams pulled in 48 grabs for 756 yards and five scores for the Bolts.

He played better later on once he and Herbert got on the same page, and if the team is going to keep Williams, getting a rep with the QB will be critical in 2021.

The Bolts may go one more round with Williams, but if he doesn't perform up to par, their patience with him may run out.