Should the Steelers make a trade for Cowboys OL Connor Williams?

After the recent release of David DeCastro and acquirement of Trai Turner, should the Pittsburgh Steelers be content with their current roster at OL?

Having too many options is never a bad idea. In fact, depth is increasingly more important than ever before in NFL history as they expanded the regular season into 18 weeks starting 2021, only a year after adding a seventh team to each conference in the playoffs.

As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the necessity for depth was an understatement considering their offensive line situation. Returning only one starter from 2020, the makeup of it all needed a complete overhaul.

Releases/Retirements/Departures:

G David DeCastro (Retired)

T Alejandro Villanueva (Signed to Baltimore)

C Maurice Pouncey (Released)

Drafted/Signees:

C J.C. Hassenaeur (Re-signed)

C B.J Finney (Signed)

T Joe Haeg (Signed)

G Kendrick Green (Drafted)

OT Dan Moore (Drafted)

OL Rashaad Coward (Signed)

OG Trai Turner (Signed)

Their most recent addition being veteran Trai Turner, news released nearly a finger-snap after long-term Steelers and two-time All-Pro OL David DeCastro was released after being hampered in 2020 with a combination of injuries.

Now set to be DeCastro’s replacement at RG, how does Turner impact the offensive line? Conflicting feelings have been debated upon since his arrival, considering he also dealt with injuries of his own last season along with a battle against COVID-19. Leading to on-field performances that weren’t as inspired as you would hope for an incoming player, should the Steelers stop here?

Granted, an eighth offseason addition to the OL seems excessive. However, Turner is more bridge than long-term and there may be a player from a very familiar NFC East opponent who could help the rebuilding process of the Steelers offensive front.

Steelers secure another late win from the Dallas Cowboys

Embedded with so much shared history, the Steelers are no stranger on the field to the Dallas Cowboys. Their most recent matchup coming in 2020, Pittsburgh became conquerors of “Jerry’s World”, beating Dallas 24-19 on their home turf in week nine. Marking the 33rd meeting between the two, including three Super Bowls, the Steelers could put a late cherry on top in designating a trade for Cowboys OL Connor Williams.

A second-round pick in 2018, Williams has had a bit of a rollercoaster to the early portion of his NFL career. Initially, a tackle at the University of Texas, lack of arm length and core strength attributed mainly to his shift inside to guard in the NFL. And in his first two years, it showed on tape.

Growing pains became a thing for Williams, particularly when trying to block defenders whenever they would bull-rush. Becoming the weak link on the Cowboys OL as he stood in between the likes of T Tyron Smith and C Travis Frederick, his early troubles has suppressed the acknowledgment of his growth since then.

In 2020, Williams played the second-most snaps (1146) in the NFL at guard while only allowing four sacks & committing just four total penalties. John Owning of the Dallas Morning News also writes:

"Through 11 games, Williams boasts the best pass-blocking efficiency rating, which measures pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed, of his career (97.5), as he’s given up 22 pressures on 505 pass-blocking snaps this season."

In addition, his added upper-body strength over the years has steadily improved his ability to contribute as a run-blocker. Although it appears he can struggle a bit, at one point late in the season, Williams ranked in the top ten of ESPN’s Run Block Win Rate metric.

Now the main issue, if the Steelers were to acquire Williams, would be his position. As he is the left guard in Dallas, the current spot in Pittsburgh is more than solidified with Kevin Dotson on the roster. The good news of it all is that Williams has some experience in the league at RG & the potential to contribute as a tackle possibly. However, the transition to flip your primary hands & feet to the opposite side is not as simple as it may seem.

Still, he’s an above-average talent for an inferior position in the NFL, on the brink of his prime. And the best part of it all? He only has a 2.9 million dollar cap hit entering his contract year and shouldn’t demand much money next offseason barring any unforeseen jump in his projected improvement. A trade that shouldn’t demand any more than mid to late-day two-pick.