Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reports the Buccaneers have begun contract extension talks with wide receiver Mike Williams. Williams, who turns 26 in May, is entering a contract year.
A fourth-round steal in the 2010 draft, Williams has averaged 65 catches for 911 yards and eight touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons. He’s averaging 14.2 yards per reception in his career.
After a disappointing 2011 season in which Williams was exposed as incapable of carrying the load as a true No. 1 wide receiver, he enjoyed a career-best year as the No. 2 opposite Vincent Jackson in 2012. Although Williams lacks elite separation skills, he is a big, strong receiver who defeats man coverage with physicality.
Jackson makes $11 million a year. Williams should target Robert Meachem’s $6.5 million annual average as a baseline in negotiations. He’ll probably aim for $7 million a year or more.