For a wide variety of reasons, the Steelers are the clear winners of the Williamson trade
It was announced on Sunday that the Steelers were acquiring six-year veteran linebacker Avery Williamson from the Jets. Considering the Jets are attempting to fully tank for a high draft pick, it makes sense that they would ship off one of their few bright spots on defense. As for the Steelers, adding Williamson to their already good defense should make their defense elite going forward.
While it should be noted as well that this isn’t necessarily a horrible trade for the Jets. Williamson was surely going to leave as a free agent after this year, and with the Jets wanting to secure the number one pick, moving on from Williamson is a smart move. While the compensation isn’t high (more on that later), they still got something for a player that now makes their odds of securing the top pick better.
As for the Steelers, they get another body to add to their linebacking crew. After the injury from Devin Bush, the Steelers had a clear hole at linebacker. While backup Robert Spillane was filling in well on running downs, he was a liability against the pass. Williamson isn’t a great coverage option, but he seems to be at least the best option they have on the current roster. It may not be by much but adding him to the roster is a great move for the Steelers.
With all of this considered, here are the reasons the Steelers are clear winners in the Williamson trade.
The compensation
The Steelers won this trade because they gave up virtually nothing to acquire Williamson. A 2022 fifth for Williamson and a 2022 seventh is barely worth noting, as picks that far out and that low have little value. For reference, the Steelers orchestrated a similar deal for lineman Chris Wormley this offseason, and that deal isn’t horrible in the grand scheme of things due to how little value that truly represents.
To me, it is almost shocking the Jets were willing to give him up for so little. Yes, they are clearly tanking, but had he stayed on the team and kept playing at such a high level, he likely would have signed a deal that could have landed them a comp pick of similar value. The caveat with that is that if the Jets go on a spending spree, that won’t matter, but still, it seems like Williamson could have been worth a little more.
Looking at the Steelers, they gave up essentially the same value for Williamson that they gave up for Wormley. Williamson has played over 60 percent of the Jets defensive snaps while Wormley has only played 11 percent of the Steelers snaps. The team is getting a superior player for next to nothing, and Colbert should be praised for this. Even if Williamson only plays sparingly this year, this move is a win.
What he could get in return
What also makes this deal intriguing is Williamson’s returnability for the Steelers. This is a two-way street, as he could play well enough to earn a big enough contract to gain the Steelers a comp pick in 2022 or he could come back cheaply enough that he is still on the roster next year. Looking at the first option, if Williamson balls out and looks like a dynamic player with the Steelers, he may walk as a free agent next year, but earn a big enough of a contract to gain a future draft pick.
That alone would likely wash away the draft compensation the Steelers gave up for him, essentially making this a free trade. As well, if Williamson is here to serve more as depth, he could be a cheap resign option going into next year. Considering the Steelers have a decent sized cap hit from fellow linebacker Vince Williams, the Steelers may offer a similar-sized contract to both and keep the one that decides to take it.
For example, if the Steelers cut Williams but turnaround and offer both him and Williamson a one-year veteran minimum contract or even a cheap two-year deal for around that number, they could keep at least one of them. This would mean the Steelers linebacker depth chart would be Bush, Spillane, and Williams/Williamson. That is a strong trio of players who would likely keep this defense at the elite level it is currently playing at.
His flexibility
Moving past the compensation side of things, Williamson is a fine player himself. He was a highly sought-after free agent in 2018 before signing with the Jets. In his lone full season, he recorded 120 tackles and proved to be an above-average player in coverage. While he is no stellar man coverage player, he does fine in a zone. Out of the options currently playing, he is probably the best linebacker in coverage (although it isn’t by a wide margin).
This means he can step in once he learns the playbook and see some snaps in nickel and dime defense. This will allow for Spillane and Williams to stay in on running downs and continue to excel at what they do best. Also, important to note, this deal came after the Steelers rush defense got cooked by the Ravens, so it could be insurance in case the inside linebackers aren’t aiding this defense.
The flexibility he brings as a player for this defense is a major win. Right now, he seems like a favorite to take over in obvious passing downs. This doesn’t mean either one of Spillane or Williams will suddenly ride the bench, but instead, those players will see more of a rotation to keep them in when it best suits them. None of the three will take over Bush’s full-time playing role, but the trio together can help cover up his loss.
The depth
Building off the last point, the Steelers suddenly have a really deep and capable inside linebacker depth chart. Spillane has been a pleasant surprise as a starter while Williams has reminded the NFL of how ferocious and physical, he can be as a player. Adding Williamson to this group gives them a slightly better overall linebacker and one that can cover slightly better. The reserves are more coverage of specific options that need to develop a little more before seeing the field regularly.
Even if the Steelers opt to just keep the group as is and have Williamson as a backup only, that group was majorly improved as a result. The compensation isn’t high, so while this result would be a little disappointing, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. More than likely, Williams makes his way onto this defense, and assuming he plays as he has with the Jets, he would be well worth the add.
It seems like this group is going to rely on a rotation, which isn’t a bad thing. This allows for each of the starters to see the field on downs that work the best with their strengths. Williamson doesn’t need to suddenly take over and play every down, he just needs to see the field on more passing downs while Williams and Spillane focus more on the rundowns. This group should be able to work together in rotation to make this defense even stouter.
On paper, there is little not to like about this move for the Steelers. The compensation was next to nothing, and the player the team got is a solid all-around player. Don’t expect any sudden benchings to get Williamson on the field, but instead a healthy rotation that allows each player to maximize what they do well at.