Chargers WR Tyrell Williams to receive second-round tender

The Los Angeles Chargers have reportedly placed a second-round tender on WR Tyrell Williams.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chargers will use a second-round tender on wide receiver Tyrell Williams.

Chargers planning to place second-round tender on WR Tyrell Williams, per source. Williams has drawn interest around league and may be trade candidate if teams aren't willing to part with a second-round pick to get him.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2018

Williams was scheduled to be a restricted free agent. The Chargers had the option of placing a first-, second- or original-round tender (or not tendering him at all and letting him become an unrestricted free agent) on the 2015 undrafted free agent out of Western Oregon. By choosing to use the second-round tender, it will cost the Chargers $2.9 million for 2018 unless they decide to sign him to a multi-year contract. If another team puts in an offer sheet for the four-year wideout, the Chargers will have the opportunity to match it. If they don’t, however, they will receive a second-round pick in this year’s draft. Like Schefter mentioned, trading him is also an option, but it’s something I wouldn’t really entertain.

Williams is only 26 years old. A year after leading the Chargers in receiving yards (1,059), he finished with 43 receptions for 728 yards, second-most on the team behind Keenan Allen, who returned from an ACL injury. He also caught four touchdowns in 2017 and has 11 total touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Williams has rare speed for a 6-foot-4 guy. He averaged a team-high 16.9 yards per reception. He’s also been extremely durable, playing in every game, including starting 27 of those games, over the last two years. This is a guy who had two catches for 90 yards his rookie year..

In terms of depth, the Chargers have Allen, 2017 first-round pick Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin and Geremy Davis also under contract for 2018.

The Chargers officially re-signed Davis, another 26-year-old restricted free agent, to a one-year deal. This will be Davis’ third year as a Charger, but he has spent most of his time on the practice squad. The former sixth-rounder has zero catches and zero yards in five games played, but the 6-foot-3, 217-pounder comes with potential and could see more playing time should one of the receivers mentioned above gets cut or traded.

The Chargers also re-signed linebacker Nick Dzubnar to a two-year deal. Dzubnar, 26, has been with the Chargers his entire career. He finished with a career-high 21 combined tackles in 13 games this past season, but he’s not the best defender. However, he’s been a core special teamer. According to Chargers.com’s Ricky Henne, he led the league with 21 special teams tackles.

Williams, Dzubnar and Davis were three of five restricted free agents I thought the team would keep. DE Chris McCain and S Adrian Phillips are the other two.