Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Singing superstar Whitney Houston dies at 48

Raiders acquire Lions' Mike Williams, McCown

Oakland gives up fourth-round pick for possible starting QB, receiver

NEW YORK - Two years after the Detroit Lions made Mike Williams the 10th pick in the NFL draft, they admitted their mistake.

The Lions on Saturday traded the disappointing wide receiver and quarterback Josh McCown to the Oakland Raiders for a fourth-round pick (105th overall).

The move to send Williams to Oakland reunites him with Raiders first-year coach Lane Kiffin, who was his wide receivers coach at Southern California.

After a stellar collegiate career in which he caught 176 passes for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons, Williams never fit in with the Lions.

While he has ideal size at 6-5, Williams is considered too slow for coordinator Mike Martz’s offense and doesn’t run crisp routes.   He caught just 37 passes for 449 yards and two touchdowns in 22 games with the Lions.

In Oakland, Williams joins a crowded wide receivers corps that includes Randy Moss, Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry.  Oakland has been rumored to be exploring trade options for Moss, a five-time Bowler who has two years and $20 million remaining on his contract.

McCown is headed to a backup role with Oakland after the Raiders selected Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick in Saturday’s draft.  Oakland also has Andrew Walter, who started eight games last season.

A five-year veteran who did not attempt a pass last season, McCown has thrown for 5,431 yards and 25 touchdowns with 29 interceptions in 35 career games.  He started 13 games for Arizona in 2004.

© 2012 PA SportsTicker

advertisement
More news
Image: Gerald Sensabaugh, Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, DeSean Jackson
AP
Offseason needs for NFC teams

Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.

Image: Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos
Getty Images
Wesseling: Offseason priorities for AFC teams

Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Super Bowl XLVI
  Super Bowl XLVI shots
See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots

more photos

Slideshow
Image:
  Sideline support
Check out some of the NFL cheerleaders from across the league.

NBCSports.com