The Las Vegas Raiders expected Tyrell Williams to be a difference maker last season. Alas, the wide receiver didn’t live up to expectations in his first year with the team though it can be said it wasn’t entirely his fault.
What went wrong with Tyrell Williams?
Williams was signed to complement Antonio Brown, but once the trouble maker was cut, the Raiders wide receiver corps suffered a devastating blow and Williams became their main wide out, a role he had a hard time fulfilling.
Williams scored a touchdowns in five consecutive games to begin the year and had more than 100 receiving yards in his first game with the Raiders. He seemed to have found a niche, but he then suffered a foot injury that bothered him during the 2019 campaign. All in all, the wide receiver finished the year with 651 yards and six touchdowns.
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How can Williams improve?
If they wanted to move on from Williams, the Raiders could cut Williams without any salary cap penalties. However, the veteran has a couple things working in his favor and if he stays, he’s likely to rebound from a mediocre season.
First, Williams should be fully healthy. He only missed one match last year, but plantar fasciitis hampered his ability to play at full speed. Second, the wide receiver won’t carry the burden of being the focal point of the offense. The tight end corps showed they are a strength last year and the Raiders will likely add more wide receivers in either the draft or free agency.
Tyrell Williams is not a featured receiver, but he doesn’t have to be one. As long as he’s healthy, the Raiders offense should have a steady target to throw the ball to in Las Vegas.
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