The Detroit Lions and Mike Williams: What Could Have Been

As a football fan here in Seattle, I was glad to see ex-Detroit Lions wide receiver Mike Williams finally get his act together.  There were huge expectations for the 6'5" wideout out of USC.

Chosen by Matt Millen in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, he was the third wide receiver the Lions selected in three consecutive years.  Charles Rogers of Michigan State was selected in 2003, and Roy Williams from Texas was selected in 2004. 

Of the three, only Roy Williams had any kind of success with the Lions.

In his two years as a Lion, Mike Williams caught 37 passes for 459 yards and two touchdowns.  Hardly eye-popping numbers, and the bulk of those catches were made in his rookie year. 

Because of Williams's weight issues and lack of motivation and production, Detroit let Williams go.

He was given a chance with the Oakland Raiders (seven catches for 90 yards and no touchdowns) and the Tennessee Titans (played in two games, zero catches and zero touchdowns).  After being let go by the Titans in 2007, Mike Williams was out of football.

With his career left for dead, Williams began a long and unusual road back to the NFL. 

In 2010, Williams was offered a chance to earn a spot on the Seattle Seahawks by his former coach at USC, Pete Carroll.  I know when I first learned that, I gave Williams little chance to make the team, given the number of wide receivers the Seahawks had at the time.  Deion Branch (since traded back to the New England Patriots) was finally healthy, along with Ben Obanamu and Deon Butler.

But Mike Williams came to camp weighing 230 pounds and in the best shape he'd ever been.  He was the first on the field and the last to leave, and worked with QB Matt Hasselbeck after practice.

It paid off. 

Mike Williams is the Seahawks' leading receiver this year, with 33 catches for 375 yards and one touchdown.  If all goes well for Williams, he will far exceed his career totals in this season alone.

But one has to think what could have been if Williams had the work ethic and desire he has now when he was a member of the Lions.  Assuming that Charles Rogers and Roy Williams would have still been cut and traded, respectively, and the Lions would still have drafted Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford and signed Nate Burleson, just what kind of shape would the Lions be in today?

With a 6'5" Williams as a great possession receiver paired with 6'5" Calvin Johnson as a deep threat, would there be any secondary that could contain them?  Imagine how the middle of the field would open up for Brandon Pettigrew and the seams would open up for Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith.

Throw Burleson into the mix as a third wide receiver, and you're talking some serious offense.

It would have been great.  But Williams thought he could rely on what he did at USC, and left himself inadequately prepared.  It's no wonder his career was left for dead after four years.

I think Williams is a lock for comeback player of the year.  Before the Oakland game, he had caught 21 passes for 210 yards.  His total catches in his career before the Seahawks?  Forty-four catches for 539 yards.

Mike Williams has to be the feel-good story of the NFL this year.  The Seahawks are battling for first place in the weak NFC West and Williams is a big part of the Seahawks' success.

Congratulations Mike on getting your career and your life back in order.