Philadelphia Eagles: WR Tyrell Williams could be a cheap FA addition
By David Esser
Let’s make one thing very clear – the Philadelphia Eagles have no money. They’re projected to be anywhere from $50-70 million over the league’s salary cap, and they’ll have to release talent and restructure deals at an absurd rate just to get to an operable state.
However, this isn’t something that the team’s front office hasn’t prepared for. Once the new league year begins, Howie Roseman and company should have a handful of cap-savvy moves lined up, transactions that will get the team back under the salary cap for the 2021 season.
This doesn’t mean the Eagles will have tens of millions to throw at big-name free agents like JJ Watt and Allen Robinson, but they should definitely have enough to chuck out a few “prove it” one-year deals – guys coming off injuries who are simply hunting for a job this offseason.
A name that fits that description is soon-to-be-released wide receiver Tyrell Williams.
The #Raiders plan to release WR Tyrell Williams at the start of the league year next month, per source. Williams missed the entire 2020 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, but should be fully healthy in 2-3 weeks. He’s still only 28.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 11, 2021
Could the Philadelphia Eagles snag WR Tyrell Williams this offseason?
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A 1,000 yard receiver way back in 2016, Williams could be a sneaky good addition to an Eagles WR room that really has nothing promising at the moment. Guys like Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham have shown flashes at times, but neither are solidified starters quite yet. Greg Ward’s time as a starting slot receiver should probably have ended in 2019, and Quez Watkins and John Hightower simply didn’t shown enough in their respective rookie seasons to deem them as reliable options moving forward.
His expected cheap asking price withstanding, what makes Williams super intriguing from the Eagles standpoint is the fact that he already has a connection to the team’s new-look coaching staff. Nick Sirianni was Williams’ WR coach during his career year with the Chargers, and it’s hard not to imagine the two have a positive relationship. If Williams ends up choosing between a few one-year “prove it” deals, his previous ties to Sirianni could see him lean towards Philadelphia.
While the Eagles really shouldn’t be picky about their WR additions moving forward, the fact that Williams is still under 30 should be attractive as well. Not only do the Eagles desperately need some better production at the WR position in 2021, but they need young production – guys the organization can build around over the next couple of seasons.
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Ultimately speaking, Williams’ availability to the Philadelphia Eagles will rest on what his market is this offseason in free agency. If multiple teams are inquiring on the WR, then Philly will have to look elsewhere. However, should teams be scared away due to his injury history, the Eagles could definitely swoop in with an incentive-laden one-year deal, reuniting the veteran pass-catcher with his old wide receivers coach.