Plenty of people in Seattle are upset at the team’s decision to release wide receiver Kasen Williams. That includes Richard Sherman, who criticized the team on Twitter. The lightly regarded Williams ripped it up pretty good in the preseason, but the team decided to cut him anyway.
The Seahawks decided to instead keep Amara Darboh, who didn’t do much of anything in the practice games but was a third-round pick.
Williams caught 9 passes for 208 yards in the preseason, including seven receptions over 25 yards. Most of his catches were of the contested variety – making good adjustments while the ball was in the air and outjumping and outcompeting defensive backs for high throws. I saw him make a pretty awesome one-handed catch against Xavier Rhodes, who’s one of the best corners in the league (that's the one that's pictured). Later he caught a touchdown on a fade route in that game.
Seattle’s loss could be Cleveland’s gain. The Browns picked up Williams on waivers, and he could wind up being a fair No. 3 receiver for them. They don’t have much else behind Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt. Sammie Coates is faster than Williams, but I think Williams is better – with that ability to win on contested balls (while every pass is an adventure for Coates).
In the past, we have seen other unheralded receivers light it up in the preseason, and some have gone on to prove that they belong in the league. Victor Cruz, Robby Anderson and Allen Hurns, most notably, proved to be worth spots on rosters.
But there have also been some who’ve quickly disappeared after stardom in August. Adrian Arrington, Taj Smith and Matt Hazel, anyone?
In the last eight years, there have been 26 players who’ve gone for 200-plus receiving yards in August. That includes three players this year – Williams, Dede Westbrook and Jakeem Grant.
| PLAYERS WITH 200-PLUS RECEIVING YARDS IN PRESEASON | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Rec | Yards | Avg | Lng | TD |
| 2010 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 15 | 297 | 19.8 | 64t | 4 |
| 2017 | Dede Westbrook, Jac. | 13 | 288 | 22.2 | 43t | 2 |
| 2015 | Rashad Ross, Wash. | 25 | 266 | 10.6 | 23 | 4 |
| 2016 | Robby Anderson, NYJ | 13 | 264 | 20.3 | 50 | 3 |
| 2010 | Matt Willis, Den. | 13 | 263 | 20.2 | 39t | 1 |
| 2012 | Travaris Cadet, N.O. | 30 | 246 | 8.2 | 24t | 2 |
| 2010 | Adrian Arrington, N.O. | 11 | 245 | 22.3 | 51 | 2 |
| 2015 | Seth Roberts, Oak. | 15 | 243 | 16.2 | 39 | 1 |
| 2012 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 13 | 240 | 18.5 | 49 | 1 |
| 2014 | Allen Hurns, Jac. | 14 | 232 | 16.6 | 45 | 1 |
| 2017 | Jakeem Grant, Mia. | 8 | 230 | 28.8 | 69t | 2 |
| 2011 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 9 | 230 | 25.6 | 77t | 3 |
| 2013 | Marcus Easley, Buff. | 12 | 224 | 18.7 | 79t | 1 |
| 2016 | Aldrick Robinson, Atl. | 9 | 223 | 24.8 | 68 | 0 |
| 2014 | Justin Hunter, Ten. | 10 | 217 | 21.7 | 64t | 2 |
| 2015 | Martavis Bryant, Pitt. | 8 | 215 | 26.9 | 63 | 2 |
| 2013 | Ted Ginn, Car. | 9 | 214 | 23.8 | 87t | 2 |
| 2013 | Ladarius Green, S.D. | 13 | 210 | 16.2 | 57 | 2 |
| 2011 | Taj Smith, Ind. | 12 | 210 | 17.5 | 54 | 2 |
| 2017 | Kasen Williams, Sea. | 9 | 208 | 23.1 | 36 | 1 |
| 2014 | Brice Butler, Oak. | 13 | 206 | 15.8 | 29 | 4 |
| 2015 | Matt Hazel, Mia. | 14 | 204 | 14.6 | 27 | 1 |
| 2014 | Robert Woods, Buff. | 15 | 204 | 13.6 | 30 | 1 |
| 2012 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 11 | 204 | 18.5 | 57t | 3 |
| 2013 | Josh Gordon, Clev. | 9 | 200 | 22.2 | 45 | 0 |
| 2010 | Max Komar, Ariz. | 12 | 200 | 16.7 | 36 | 1 |
—Ian Allan