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.