Steelers acquire veteran WR Mike Williams in trade with Jets
Once the New York Jets brought in superstar wide receiver Davante Adams, veteran wide receiver Mike Williams became expendable, which led to the team trading him ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
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According to Brookie Pryor of ESPN, the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired Williams in a trade with the Jets in exchange for a fifth-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
Not only did the Steelers land Jets wide receiver Mike Williams in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick, but the team made another deadline-day move in acquiring Packers pass rusher Preston Smith for a 2025 seventh-round selection Tuesday.
The Steelers have wanted to bring in an upgrade at wide receiver for quite some time, but all their efforts to do so haven’t worked out in their favor until now. Although Williams isn’t a superstar, the veteran wideout could be a game-changer for the team’s offense, with head coach Mike Tomlin talking about the team’s new depth at wide receiver via ESPN.
“That when called upon, they’re capable of delivering,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday of what he has learned about his wide receiver depth. “And I just think with each passing week, there’ll be more opportunities to display that, particularly as people work schematically to minimize George, it creates one-on-one opportunity for others.
“… I just feel like we have a group that’s hardworking and capable and can’t wait to show the football world those capabilities and every time we step into a stadium, they get an opportunity to do so. And you’ve seen some examples of it already.”
Pittsburgh is currently sitting atop the AFC North division with an impressive record of 6-2, slightly better than the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, who many expected to win the division title.
