The Las Vegas Raiders announced that they have officially released wide receiver Tyrell Williams heading into the offseason.
The move hardly comes as any surprise considering the Raiders were looking to shore up some much-needed cap space in order to make a splash in free agency. The release will clear up $11.6 million this offseason and $23.1 million overall over the next two years.
Williams signed a four-year, $44 million contract prior to the 2019 campaign as part of the team’s efforts to revamp the firepower on offense. Las Vegas had high hopes that he could establish himself as a go-to option for quarterback Derek Carr in the passing game.
Unfortunately, he failed to provide much bang for his buck after dealing with plantar fasciitis in his first year and missing all of last season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder. As a result, he finished his short stint with the Raiders tallying just 42 receptions for 651 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games.
The Raiders have put an emphasis on revamping their receiving corps over the last two drafts with the addition of Hunter Renfrow, Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards. Of course, head coach Jon Gruden has made it no secret that they still have yet to meet expectations.
One free-agent pickup that did pay some major dividends for Las Vegas was wide receiver Nelson Agholor, who finished the 2020 NFL season with 48 catches for a career-high 896 yards and eight touchdowns on a one-year deal. Although he is set to hit the market as a free agent, the extra cash could make him an intriguing option to stick around this offseason.
Meanwhile, Williams will likely need to sign a similar deal if he hopes to prove himself as Agholor did at his next landing spot. His best season came during the 2016 campaign when he hauled in 69 catches for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns.
