The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a big acquisition by bringing in Mike Williams at the trade deadline. They were desperate for help at wide receiver, and General Manager Omar Khan had been in talks with many teams dating all the way back to the 2024 offseason. Williams will be able to upgrade the position behind George Pickens, which is what has been Khan's goal since he was trying to trade for Brandon Aiyuk during training camp.
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Former Jets wide receiver Mike Williams in action against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Some fans may be disappointed after seeing Williams is the only addition being made at wide receiver. There were moments over the past couple of months where it looked like Pittsburgh would be landing Cooper Kupp or Davante Adams, but clearly that did not come to fruition. Williams is still an upgrade, but he is not the big-name fans were hoping for. NFL insider Jordan Schultz spoke with people inside the organization ahead of the trade deadline, and they gave some insight into why a trade for Williams might happen.
"I talked to the Steelers last week, and they said, 'If we get Mike Williams, it'll be because of two reasons: he's good in the 20s, and he's good on 50/50s,' and that's what Russell Wilson's so good at with that moon ball," Schultz said. "This is the move the Steelers had to make. Is it the perfect solution? Maybe not. But you get a 50/50-ball guy, a really talented red zone target as well for Russell Wilson. And not only that, you get someone you can pair next to George Pickens."
It is clear Pittsburgh had a vision for how Williams would be used within their offense. The organization likes Williams' ability to go up and win on jump balls, and he is also a threat within the red zone, which is an area the Steelers have struggled with ever since Russell Wilson took over the starting job.
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Former Jets wide receiver Mike Williams celebrates after a big first down during the 2024 season.
Pittsburgh ranks 30th in red zone offense during the 2024 season, which is not ideal. The offensive unit has been in the red zone 28 times, but has only scored 13 touchdowns. This is not a winning formula, especially once Pittsburgh plays good teams and hopefully makes the postseason. The Steelers have the luxury of having arguably the best kicker in the NFL in Chris Boswell, but fans would prefer to see the ball in the end zone.
Williams stands at 6'4”, and his ability to win jump balls certainly helps in the red zone. He should be a tall target for Wilson to find once Pittsburgh crosses the 20, and his impact will hopefully be felt immediately as the offense puts long drives together. It's unclear how involved Williams will be in his first game with Pittsburgh, but as the season goes along, his role should increase week after week.
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Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
Steelers Have Been Linked To Mike Williams Since The 2024 Offseason
Pittsburgh's interest in Williams first came about once free agency began during the 2024 offseason. It was clear that Williams wouldn't be returning to the Los Angeles Chargers, which is where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. Pittsburgh had a free agency visit scheduled with Williams, but he never made it there. He decided to visit the New York Jets first, and he never left. He signed once he got there and never even considered Pittsburgh during free agency.
Williams is looking to get his career back on track after a failed stop in New York, and coming to Pittsburgh might be the best move for the veteran. Wilson loves to throw the deep ball, which is where Williams excels. This was a step in the right direction for Pittsburgh, even though some fans wanted a bigger name.
What do you think of Pittsburgh's reasoning to land Williams? Let us know in the comments below!
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