The Pittsburgh Steelers managed to address two big needs before the NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday. They acquired wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets while also trading for defensive lineman Preston Smith in a deal with the Green Bay Packers.
In order to acquire Williams, the Steelers are sending a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Jets.
Smith, on the other hand, will cost Pittsburgh a seventh-round selection.
The Steelers wanted to upgrade on wide receiver position, considering they don’t have much depth behind top wideout George Pickens. After missing on their previous targets, including All-Pro Davante Adams, they will hope Williams can rediscover some of his former big-play ability and help them in the second part of the campaign.
After recovering from an ACL injury, Williams joined the Jets in the offseason on a one-year, $10 million deal. However, never managed to gel with the rest of the offense and was at odds with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Williams only has 12 receptions for 166 yards and no touchdowns in 2024.
Smith, on the other hand, will help the Steelers’ pass rush unit, which has been frequently hit by injuries. He has been reliable throughout his career, missing only three games since entering the league in 2015. Smith started all nine games with the Packers in 2024 and has 2.5 sacks and 19 tackles, although his playing time has been dwindling lately.
