Raiders Plan To Release WR Tyrell Williams At Start of League Year

After two seasons, the Las Vegas Raiders will release wide receiver Tyrell Williams. That move will become official at the start of the new league year, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

The news was announced on Thursday, and Williams turns 29 on Friday. The timing may be poor, but this move will give the five-year veteran a chance to get a head start on free agency and will free up $11.6 million in cap space once it becomes official.

Williams signed a four-year deal worth $44.4 million with the Raiders back in 2019. He was healthy for the most part during his first season, racking up 42 receptions for 651 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games.

Unfortunately, that is not the sort of production Las Vegas was hoping for when Williams was signed. He then missed the entire 2020 season due to a torn labrum in his shoulder that required surgery.

With younger options on the roster, there was little benefit to keeping him and his hefty salary around. Help is still needed at the position, but Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards are expected to make sizable leaps in 2021. Hunter Renfrow is still there, and it's possible the team could re-sign Nelson Agholor.

In other words, there are plenty of guys ready to play. More help will still be brought in, but that player will either be a big star or come at a lower cost. For example, the Raiders reportedly have interest in Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.