Steelers finally make a splash trade to upgrade at wide receiver in the final hour
Time has finally come to an end for trade speculation surrounding the Steelers. Everyone in the fan base can finally breathe a sigh of relief. They won't have to hear any more receivers rumored to Pittsburgh after many months of speculation surrounding nearly every available player at the position. The Steelers have been trying to find a trade to upgrade their receiver spot for a while now.
Things heated up recently around the Steelers and Jets ever since New York acquired Davante Adams. He was another player rumored to have interest from Pittsburgh. Since that move, many speculated on the future of Mike Williams and the Jets future relationship. After the Jets lost to the Steelers, it seems like their poor record forced their hand in selling off Williams for assets.
Williams was dealt to the Steelers for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Not a bad price overall, but Williams is someone who can jump onto the field and provide an impact.
Williams has proven to be a quality contested catch guy over his career, which Russell Wilson will love. The veteran WR is a pending free agent, so if things don't work out for one reason or another in Pittsburgh, they can let him walk away.
A Mike Williams trade always made sense for Steelers
There are plenty of reasons why Williams' landing with the Steelers made sense. It stretches back to this past offseason. He was cut by the Chargers after having a quality career that was full of injuries. He had some free agent visits lined up, which one was with the black and gold. He went to visit the Jets first, and that is where he signed. He hoped to rejuvenate his career with Rodgers.
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Sometimes it takes time in the NFL for players to land where they were meant to be all along. Williams is now with the Steelers, and Omar Khan got the guy that he wanted months ago.
As mentioned earlier, Williams made even more sense since the Jets added Adams. That is not to say he wouldn't have if Adams got traded elsewhere. New York stinks and they would've been sellers either way.
Now that Williams is in Pittsburgh, he should be able to take some pressure off of George Pickens. He is a true number two option at the receiver spot, which is something the black and gold have been dying for. He will provide consistency and the ability to go down the field and make some contested throws, which many who watch Wilson know that they need more players who can do that.
At the end of the day, adding Williams in a trade is something the Steelers have been looking for. He might not be the star receiver many wanted all along, but he is better than some of the other options who were rumored to Pittsburgh. He wasn't a key cog in New York's offense, but a change of scenery might do him some good.
The Steelers are better now than they were before this deal got finalized.