Steelers acquire WR Mike Williams in a trade with the Jets and acquire edge player Preston Smith in a trade with the Packers

Mike Williams is currently in motion.

NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday that the Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring Williams in a trade with the New York Jets. In exchange for the big-play wide receiver, the Steelers will send a 2025 fifth-round pick to Gotham. The teams subsequently announced the trade, which is subject to a Williams physical.

While the Steelers addressed an apparent need at wide receiver, they were not finished on deadline day. According to Rapoport and Pelissero, Pittsburgh also acquired a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for Green Bay Packers edge Preston Smith, which further strengthened the team’s stellar pass-rushing unit. Both clubs subsequently informed the public of Smith’s trade.

Smith, who is 31 years old, has two seasons and $24.6 million in base salary remaining on his current contract. This year, he has encountered some difficulties, recording 2.5 sacks and an overall PFF grade of 61.8 in nine starts for the Packers. He will now be positioned on the margins of the Steelers, alongside Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt. Despite Nick Herbig’s injury, it is probable that he will soon return to Pittsburgh’s front seven, which poses a significant threat to opposing quarterbacks in the future.

After the Jets traded for Davante Adams, Williams, 30, became the odd man out in New York’s WR core. The Steelers have long sought assistance at the position, and they were unsuccessful in their attempts to trade for Brandon Aiyuk, a wideout from the San Francisco 49ers, during the offseason. In a move that should benefit both organizations, the two parties convened prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Williams signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Jets, with $5 million of that amount guaranteed, after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers this spring after seven seasons with the team. Nevertheless, Williams was utilized sparingly to commence the 2024 campaign, as he was recovering from a damaged ACL. Williams became superfluous once Adams was incorporated into a receiver room that already contained Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson, despite Lazard’s injury.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Williams is a large individual who is renowned for his ability to make significant plays. However, in his limited tenure with the Jets, he has only recorded 12 catches for 166 yards in nine games (three of which he started), and he has not scored any touchdowns.

In Pittsburgh, he is expected to discover numerous additional opportunities and provide quarterback Russell Wilson with an additional reliable option in opposition to wide receiver George Pickens.

This does little to diminish the Jets’ underdog chances going forward and provides them with a return on a Williams signing that did not prove out, as they are still clinging to playoff hopes at 3-6.

The Steelers, on the other hand, are currently at the top of the AFC North with a record of 6-2 and have finally resolved a significant issue that has been apparent since the preseason.

Roman Wilson, a rookie, is currently on injured reserve and has not yet played a single action.In recent weeks, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III have made more substantial contributions; however, Williams represents a substantial improvement.

Williams has been rumored to be on the market for weeks, and the Steelers have been actively seeking to augment their receiver roster throughout the season. It was all brought together on the day of the deadline.