The Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed interest in trading for a wide receiver since the 2024 offseason, and with the clock ticking until the NFL trade deadline, there's more incentive than ever to make something happen.
While Calvin Austin III is coming off a career game that included two touchdowns (one receiving and one special teams TD) and Van Jefferson showed signs of life in Week 8, the Steelers are desperately in need of an upgrade at the position.
Recently, ESPN Insider Jeremy Fowler reported that NY Jets WR Mike Williams could be on the move after Thursday Night Football.
Trade candidates: Latest on Za’Darius Smith, Mike Williams and Tre’Davious White on @SportsCenter with @itsthebaldgirl pic.twitter.com/ZfzvOJd9ow
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 30, 2024
The Jets are hosting the Houston Texans on TNF in Week 9. After suffering yet another loss, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have fallen to 2-6 on the season. With a loss tonight, Fowler believes New York will make Williams available for trade.
As badly as Pittsburgh could use a wide receiver upgrade, they shouldn't go selling the house to land Mike Williams before the NFL trade deadline. Williams was once a perennial 1,000-yard receiver, but those days are long behind him.
Since the end of the 2022 season, the 30-year-old wide-out has combined for just 409 yards and 1 touchdown over the past two seasons. This is largely thanks to an ACL injury that ended his 2023 campaign after just three games.
Still, this means he has averaged a mere 37.1 yards per game over the past two seasons. Williams has clearly lost a step on tape since the knee injury -- which is never a good sign for a player who wasn't 'fast' to begin with.
While Williams still has size on his side and can win some contested balls in traffic, he struggles to seperate and yards after the catch are virtually non-existent.
At this stage of his career, Williams may be a slight upgrade over Van Jefferson as the boundary receiver opposite George Pickens. If a trade doesn't cost much more than a late-round pick swap, by all means, make a move. But the Pittsburgh Steelers need to be careful not to give up too much for an aging receiver who may not have much left in the tank.
