The Pittsburgh Steelers are still hunting for some help at wide receiver as the trade deadline is under two weeks away. General Manager Omar Khan has been aggressive in trying to acquire help at receiver, but hasn't had any luck. He was in pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk throughout the 2024 offseason, and he tried to bring in Davante Adams before he was traded to the New York Jets. The trade deadline is quickly approaching, and Khan needs to find Pittsburgh some help behind George Pickens.
Pittsburgh has been connected in some way to nearly every wide receiver whose name has been mentioned in trade conversations. The Steelers are clearly desperate at the position.
One target that seemed like a possibility after Adams was dealt was Mike Williams. The wideout signed with New York during the 2024 offseason, but he also had a visit scheduled in Pittsburgh during free agency. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the Jets may not have any interest in trading Williams as he could be valuable to their offense.
NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero collaborated on an article for the NFL, and they gave some insight on Williams and how the Jets feel about the veteran wide receiver.
"Many thought [Mike] Williams would have been dealt already, but with a big catch last week, Williams could also stay on the roster and help. The team has plans to use him in a way to maximize his abilities. The Jets also aren't just going to give him away after already paying a majority of his $10 million salary."
Williams has been available in all seven of New York's games, but the receiver has played sparingly. He has caught just 11 passes on the year for 160 yards. He has been targeted 19 times, which included a game-sealing miscommunication between the receiver and Aaron Rodgers which caused the Jets to lose a Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills.
It seemed like a done deal that Williams would be dealt before the trade deadline, but according to Rapoport and Pelissero that isn't the case. The Jets feel like they can use Williams' skills, who caught one pass for 15 yards when the Jets lost in Pittsburgh. In Adams' first game with the Jets, Williams' snap count suffered severely. He was on the field for just 19 offensive snaps, which is a big decrease as he was on the field for over 30 snaps in the five games before that.
With Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Allen Lazard, the Jets don't really have any use for Williams, especially with a receiving back like Breece Hall. The veteran wide receiver could still be dealt, but the odds of Williams finishing the 2024 season in Pittsburgh don't look good. Pittsburgh also probably wouldn't be willing to give up more than a sixth-round pick, but based on the comments from the NFL insiders, New York may be looking for more.
Steelers Have Many Options At The Upcoming Trade Deadline
The chances of Khan landing an eye-popping name at the deadline are slim. Even Williams isn't the player he once was, and all of the star receivers around the league seem to be staying put. Despite that, there are still some available wide receivers who could improve the position in Pittsburgh.
Names that could be available include Darius Slayton, Christian Kirk, DeMarcus Robinson, Tyquan Thornton, KJ Osborn and Kendrick Bourne. The most intriguing name would be Kirk, but he is also the most expensive option. Either Osborn or Bourne from the New England Patriots have the chance to give Pittsburgh the most bang for its buck, and as long as Khan brings in a receiver at the deadline, it should give fans some optimism moving forward.
