Updated Steelers depth chart after Mike Williams and Preston Smith trades

Pittsburgh's depth chart looks different after their last-minute trade acquisitions.
New England Patriots v Pittsburgh Steelers
New England Patriots v Pittsburgh Steelers / Joe Sargent/GettyImages
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are all about competing in the present, and Omar Khan wasn't about to sit on his hands and let the NFL trade deadline pass without making a move.

The worst-kept secret since the offseason is that Pittsburgh wanted to add wide receiver help. After the top trade options were exhausted, the Steelers settled for Mike Williams just hours before the deadline. In exchange for Williams, the front office sent a fifth-round pick to the Jets.

Khan wasn't done yet. After securing Williams, the Steelers executed a trade with the Packers for pass rusher Preston Smith, giving up a 2025 seventh-round pick in the process. The long-time defensive lineman offers depth and security to the edge rusher position for Pittsburgh, which has dealt with numerous injuries to their EDGE group in 2024.

These last-minute acquisitions throw a few curveballs into the Steelers' depth chart after the NFL trade deadline.

Steelers updated depth chart:

Position

Starter

Second-Team

Third-team

Fourth-Team

QB

Russell Wilson

Justin Fields

Kyle Allen

RB

Najee Harris

Jaylen Warren

Cordarrelle Patterson*

Jonathan Ward

WR

George Pickens

Scotty Miller

WR

Mike Williams

Van Jefferson

SWR

Calvin Austin III

TE

Pat Freiermuth

Darnell Washington

Connor Heyward

MyCole Pruitt

LT

Dan Moore Jr.

Calvin Anderson

LG

Isaac Seumalo

Spencer Anderson

C

Zach Frazier*

Ryan McCollum

RG

Mason McCormick

Max Scharping

RT

Broderick Jones

Calvin Anderson

DL

Cameron Heyward

Isaiahh Loudermilk

NT

Keeanu Benton

DL

Larry Ogunjobi

Dean Lowry

ROLB

Alex Highsmith

Nick Herbig

LOLB

T.J. Watt

Preston Smith

Jeremiah Moon

ILB

Patrick Queen

Payton Wilson

ILB

Elandon Roberts

Mark Robinson

Tyler Matakevich*

LCB

Joey Porter Jr.

C.J. Henderson

RCB

Donte Jackson

James Pierre

Cory Trice Jr.*

SCB

Beanie Bishop Jr.

Cameron Sutton

FS

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Damontae Kazee

SS

DeShon Elliott

Terrell Edmunds

Miles Killebrew

K

Chris Boswell

P

Corliss Waitman

LS

Christian Kuntz

*Denotes injured players on track to return soon.

Mike Williams forces Van Jefferson to take a backseat

Despite his struggles during his brief stint with the Jets, it's safe to assume that Mike Williams will instantly slide into a starting role with the Pittsburgh Steelers. George Pickens will continue to see a bulk of the action, but it will be Williams -- not Van Jefferson -- working opposite Pickens.

This pairing with Russell Wilson could help revive Williams's career. The big receiver specializes in downfield ball tracking and body control, while Wilson lives to launch moonballs down the sidelines.

The addition of Williams will force Jefferson and fellow WR Calvin Austin III to take a back seat. Both Jefferson and Austin have experience manning slot duties, but their snap counts will decrease as long as Pickens and Williams stay healthy.

Preston Smith gives Steelers the league's best EDGE rotation

On the defensive side of the ball, an edge group that contained T.J. Watt and a bunch of scrubs a few weeks ago now sees Alex Highsmith back with Nick Herbig returning soon and Preston Smith added to the mix. The collection of the four edge rushers makes this arguably the strongest group in the league.

Smith can play both edge spots and can even slide inside as an interior defender on passing downs if the Steelers were to ask this of him. Smith isn't taking Alex Highsmith's starting job. I have him slotted behind T.J. Watt, but the veteran can be deployed as part of a healthy rotation.

Watt and Highsmith are well-rounded and Herbig is a pass-rush specialist. Smith, meanwhile, specializes in run defense. He uses his long, powerful frame to stack and shed at the point of attack. This beautiful blend of skills between all four players gives the Steelers an outstanding group of pass rushers.

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