Los Angeles Chargers: Five players with the most to prove in 2018

2. Mike Williams, WR

Instead of going with a safety in the 2017 NFL Draft the Los Angeles Chargers selected the best receiver in Clemson’s Mike Williams with the seventh overall pick. This ultimately worked out, as the Chargers got a great one season out of Tre Boston before landing the steal of the draft in Derwin James with the 17th overall selection this year.

However, for Williams, he did not have the ideal rookie season that a seventh overall pick should have. The Chargers drafted Williams to stockpile on an already great area of the team; the receiving core.

At the time, it was unsure if Keenan Allen would be able to return from ACL injury and still be productive. Williams was meant to be the Plan B if Allen returned and was a dud. Allen did return and was incredible, however, Williams was the one dealing with the injury bug.

A preseason back injury held Williams out for the beginning of the year. Upon his return, the Chargers seemingly were easing him into play without giving him too much of a workload or disrupting the flow of the established offensive schemes. Thus, Williams only had 11 catches for 95 yards last season.

Williams is going to be opened up next season as long as he stays healthy. With Tyrell Williams in the last year of his contract, it is important that Mike Williams excels to give the Chargers’ assurance that he can be as good, if not better, than Tyrell as the second receiving option for Philip Rivers.

The NFL is an unforgiving place and if Williams does not start producing as early as this year the Chargers could already be getting doubts. 2018 is the time for Mike Williams to prove himself.