Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and after outplaying his contract for three seasons, the Bucs are interested in signing the 25-year-old to an extension. Williams has 193 receptions over the first three years of a four-year, $2.33 million rookie contract.
Mike Williams, Bucs talk contract extension
Tampa Bay wide receiver has been outplaying his rookie contract for three seasons and now he might be rewarded with an extension from the Buccaneers.
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Williams, a fourth-round pick out of Syracuse in 2010, has been one of the Bucs’ top offensive threats since joining the team. Williams’ agent, Hadley Engelhard, says the Bucs have begun discussing an extension and added, “both sides have acknowledged that Mike has outperformed his contract.”
In 2010, Williams led all rookies with 65 receptions for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. As teams began to game plan for Williams as Tampa’s top receiver, he had a bit of a sophomore slump. He still caught 65 balls, but it was harder for him to get open deep and in the end zone as he was limited to 771 yards and three touchdowns.
With the arrival of Vincent Jackson in Tampa this year, Williams performed more like he did his rookie season with 63 catches for 996 yards and nine touchdowns. With Jackson helping take the pressure off, Williams became a deep threat again with 17 catches of over 20 yards.
Williams' rookie deal will increase his pay to $1.4 million in 2013 due to escalator clauses, but if a new contract can be signed he will see a significant raise. Williams should expect pay in the same area of an Anquan Boldin, something around the range of between $6 and $8 million per year over four years.
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