Steelers' overpay for veteran WR Mike Williams reeks of desperation

The Steelers finally made a big splash before the trade deadline, and it was a name that was heavily speculated on. Pittsburgh made a big-time deal with the Jets to acquire Mike Williams, and he should hopefully serve as a viable second option for the offense through the remainder of the season.

Williams was a name that I had highlighted as a logical fit. In the past, he has been a great deep threat and big playmaker. Injuries and ineffectiveness plagued him the past few seasons, and his tenure with the Jets was lackluster, to say the least. I liked him as a low-cost, rebound candidate in this new-look offense. Pittsburgh also liked him in the offseason, so the interest has been there.

That all being said, I hate this trade. As specified, I liked the idea of getting the Williams of old, but that won’t likely be the case. More than likely, his regression continues as he struggles to fit into a new offense for the second time this season.

For a conditional pick, late-round swap, or even just a seventh-round pick, I was fine with that risk. For a fifth-round pick though, this seems rich.

Mike Williams came at a high cost for the Steelers

The receiver market was a fairly valued one during the deadline. Top names garnered mid-round picks, and while many laughed at the fourth-round pick that was sent for Jonathan Mingo, he is a former second-round pick who still has some time on his rookie contract.

Out of the names that were dealt before the deadline, besides Mingo, Williams is clearly the worst option based on his play this season.

A fifth-round pick seems inconsequential, but a resource is still a resource no matter what round. Omar Khan has had strong Day 3 picks in the draft, so this certainly isn’t a worthless draft pick. Of the names traded, Williams has some of the longest odds to make an impact given his struggles this year.

What feels even more bitter is that DeAndre Hopkins also went for just a fifth-round pick. That selection could become a fourth-round pick, but it is contingent on the Chiefs making the Super Bowl and playtime incentives. The odds are Hopkins will cost the same as Williams this year.

I was against the idea of Hopkins coming to the Steelers because I thought his cost was going to be higher than I would have liked. For just a fifth-round pick though, that would have been a fairer deal. Williams at that same valuation seems steep.

He now has to catch a moving train and try to get his play back to where he was when he was on the Chargers. On top of this, the rest of the Steelers receiver room has shown some positives before the bye week, so I’m not sure what Williams’s role will be.This seems like an overpay and a desperation move by Khan and the Steelers this year.