The Pittsburgh Steelers have found a new trade target at wide receiver after missing out on Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams. This new possibility stems from the trade that sent Adams to the New York Jets. Following this move, the Jets are reportedly looking to trade veteran wide receiver Mike Williams, according to a report by Jordan Schultz of *Bleacher Report*.
Mike Williams, who is 30 years old, joined the Jets on a one-year contract this offseason. He’s played in all six games so far, serving as the team’s third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. However, with Adams joining the Jets, Williams will likely drop further down the depth chart. As a result, Jets general manager Joe Douglas is seeking to move on from the veteran receiver.
Williams’ contract with the Jets is worth $10 million, with $8.3 million guaranteed. If traded, most of that money would stay on New York’s books as dead cap space. For the Steelers, acquiring Williams would cost them less than $2 million for the remainder of the season, making it a relatively affordable option.
Interestingly, the Steelers had shown serious interest in Mike Williams during the offseason free agency period. They had even scheduled a visit with him back in March. However, before that meeting could take place, Williams signed with the Jets. Now, the opportunity to bring him to Pittsburgh has resurfaced.
Prior to this season, Williams spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Chargers, who selected him as the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Known for his size (6-foot-4, 218 pounds) and his ability as a deep-ball threat, Williams made a significant impact in his first few years. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered his production in recent seasons. In 2022, an ACL injury limited him to just three games, during which he caught 19 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown. The Chargers released him in the offseason to become salary cap compliant.
In his six games with the Jets this year, Williams caught 10 of 17 targets for 145 yards. Though these stats aren’t eye-popping, his past production and potential as a vertical threat make him an intriguing option for the Steelers, who have been searching for an outside receiver to complement George Pickens after trading Diontae Johnson in March.
This isn’t the first time the Steelers have tried to bolster their wide receiver group. They previously made attempts to acquire players like Adams and Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers, but those efforts fell through. Now, with the possibility of adding Mike Williams, the Steelers might finally have a solution to their wide receiver needs.
