Wide receiver Tyrell Williams felt an instant connection with the Detroit Lions coaching staff during the team's push to sign him in free agency, and that is one of the reasons he decided to sign with Detroit in free agency this offseason.
"Just knowing that familiarity with coach (Anthony) Lynn and talking to coach (Dan) Campbell and all those guys they got me excited and fired up and they believed in me too and I believe in them," Williams said in a Zoom call Monday.
"It just seemed like a great fit. I'm just excited to get going and be around those guys and a whole coaching staff that's pretty much former players is a big reason why I wanted to come here."
Williams, 29, missed the 2020 season for the Las Vegas Raiders with a torn labrum, but said he's back to about 95 percent healthy five months out of surgery. He's running routes and catching balls, and will be good to go for offseason training.
Williams played two seasons for Lynn, Detroit's new offensive coordinator, when Lynn was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams caught 84 passes for 1,381 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons under Lynn. He has ideal size at 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds, and has been an efficient deep threat throughout his career, averaging 16.1 yards per catch.
View photos of new Lions wide receiver Tyrell Williams.
FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) celebrates as he scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Wembley stadium in London. On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, the Chargers announced they will wear their historic powder-blue jerseys as their primary home uniforms in the upcoming season. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams runs with the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams is mobbed by fans after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams celebrates a run against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game in San Diego, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) signals to the official as he checks his position on the line during an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, scores past Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) makes a catch in front of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Frank Zombo (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) scores a touchdown after a 1-yard pass as Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Demario Davis (56) defends in the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) and Houston Texans cornerback Gareon Conley (22) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, right, catches a pass as Cleveland Browns strong safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun looks on during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, above, leaps over Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Mychal Kendricks, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) jumps up to catch the ball while San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward (20) defends during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sep. 30, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (Jacob Gonzalez via AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) scores a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) catches a touchdown pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Xavier Woods and Anthony Brown, left rear, in the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2019, file photo, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game in Carson, Calif. Las Vegas Raiders' Williams has a torn labrum in his shoulder that he will try to play through this season. A person with knowledge of the injury confirmed that Williams got hurt in practice last week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not made any announcement. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) plays during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) makes a catch over Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Ron Parker (38) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams, left, is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Sanchez)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) is pulled down by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) makes a catch as Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Eric Berry (29) closes in, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) runs against Detroit Lions cornerback Rashaan Melvin (29) during an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) scores a touchdown as Kansas City Chiefs free safety Juan Thornhill (22) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) celebrates his touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) catches a pass against Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward (26) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams signs autographs before an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Tennessee Titans in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
"It was awesome being around him for the two years I was with the Chargers and so that was a big one, familiarity with him and just knowing how he likes to run an offense," Williams said of reconnecting with Lynn in Detroit. "I'm excited to be around him again and keep that relationship going."
Since entering the league in 2015, Williams' four touchdown receptions of 75-plus yards are tied for the most in the NFL. Among all NFL players with at least 175 receptions over that span, Williams' 16.1-yard average in the third highest in the league.
Williams also liked that the Lions plan to utilize his abilities all over the field, not just as a vertical threat.
"I love being able to stretch the field and (be) that deep-threat guy, but one of the big reasons I wanted to come here too, though, is they see me as being a guy that can run the whole route tree," Williams said.
"The intermediate stuff, the crossing routes and all that. That was a big reason why I wanted to come here. I love the deep route, too. I love catching those 70-yard touchdowns and 50-yard touchdowns. Being able to do both is going to be awesome."
Williams had a career-best 69 catches for 1,059 yards in 2016 with seven touchdowns. He could play a significant role on offense for the Lions this fall.
Quintez Cephus is the only other receiver currently under contract who caught a pass in 2020, so that room is definitely going through a retool with more additions expected to be made through free agency and the draft.
