Mike Williams, while addressing the Buffalo media Monday, described the trade that sent him from Tampa Bay to Buffalo for a 6th round draft pick as "a dream come true." Williams now returns to the town where he was a high school standout, starring at Riverside HS. He will also join Mario, Aaron, Kyle, Duke, Chris, and Nathan as the Bills inch closer to fielding the league's first ever all Williams squad.
For Mike, this may be his last chance to deliver on the vast potential he displayed during his rookie season in Tampa, when he caught 65 passes for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns, to lead all NFL rookies. He was hampered by a hamstring injury for much of last season and was limited to 22 catches for 216 yards and 2 TDs. For the low price of a sixth round draft pick, Doug Marrone is betting on a bounce back season from the receiver, whom he knows well from his coaching days at Syracuse.
"It's like being drafted all over, especially to my hometown, and get to come back and play in front of the people that know me, where I came from," Williams said while addressing the Buffalo media. "The people know what type of guy I am."
Following a season filled with controversy, including reports that his neighbors were none too pleased with frequent loud gatherings at his residence, Tampa Bay hit their boiling point when Williams was stabbed by his brother two weeks ago.
Williams passed his physical and has shown no ill effects from the attack, proclaiming he will be ready to report to voluntary team workouts on April 22.
This is a bold move for a typically cautious franchise and one that bodes well for the upcoming season. Steve Johnson and Robert Woods will benefit greatly from the coverages that Williams will force defenses into. Marquise Goodwin, who showed flashes of brilliance on deep routes, allows for potential 4 WR sets that will give opposing defenses fits.