MINNEAPOLIS — Wide receiver Troy Williamson's disappointing, drop-filled career with Minnesota is done, creating an opening for the team to pursue a free agent this week.

The Vikings agreed to trade Williamson to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round draft pick, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press today because trades cannot be made official by the NFL until free agency begins early Friday. Teams can't comment on such matters until then.

Williamson has two years remaining on his contract. He's scheduled to make $910,000 in 2008 and $1.4 million in 2009.

He will rejoin Mike Tice, who was fired as coach of the Vikings after the 2005 season and now is an assistant with Jacksonville.

Williamson was taken by the Vikings out of South Carolina with the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft, a selection obtained from the Oakland Raiders in the Randy Moss trade. Williamson never played up to those expectations, a lack of production magnified by the struggles Minnesota had on offense over the past three seasons.

The Vikings have been in flux at quarterback and lacking a true go-to receiver since they decided to deal Moss, which didn't help Williamson's development. He was asked to use his elite speed to be the deep threat they needed to stretch opposing defenses, but his playing time was inconsistent and he never found a rhythm.

Much of the problem, though, was his inability to hang onto the ball.

In training camp, Williamson spoke confidently of a solid season. He spent hours with vision specialists and caught an estimated 20,000 balls over the winter, spring and early summer — sometimes using a machine to feed them to him at home.

Though the Vikings were pleased with his work ethic, it never paid off. Williamson caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a victory over the Chicago Bears, but he finished with only 240 yards on 18 receptions in 11 games. In 39 career games, he has 1,067 yards and three touchdowns.

The most glaring gaffe, came in the season finale against the Denver Broncos when he misjudged what would have been a 72-yard score and dropped the ball without a defender in sight.

"You've got to make the routine catches routinely," coach Brad Childress said then.