WR Mike Williams gives Steelers offense much-needed depth
Pittsburgh ended its monthslong search for a wide receiver by shoring up the position group with a veteran pass catcher
Coach Cal looks to bring fun back to Arkansas and find some for himself
PITTSBURGH -- It was a long time coming.
By adding wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets at the trade deadline for a 2025 fifth-rounder, the Pittsburgh Steelers ended their monthslong search for a wide receiver by shoring up the position group with a veteran pass catcher who not only complements the existing pass catchers on the roster, but one who also possesses a skillset that plays to the strengths of quarterback Russell Wilson.
Historically, the Steelers have prioritized drafting and developing homegrown talent, but their activity at the trade deadline in not only acquiring Williams, but also landing Green Bay Packers pass rusher Preston Smith, coupled with their moves in March to revamp their quarterback room, signals the organization is comfortable with bucking tradition to end a drought of playoff wins that extends back to 2016.
"We work the trade market not only at that position but all positions," coach Mike Tomlin said less than two hours before acquiring Williams. "I think every team does, particularly those of us that are trying to lean in as the road gets narrow.
"... I just think that's normal, prudent business for us if you're trying to be a developing world championship outfit."
Coming off a left ACL tear, Williams, 30, had a slow start to the 2024 season with just 12 catches on 21 targets for 166 yards in nine games with the Jets. But at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds with a knack for ripping down jump balls and stretching the field as a deep, vertical threat, Williams could represent the missing piece for a passing offense on the rise under Wilson.
Since entering the league in 2017, he is one of the best receivers in securing contested catches. He leads the league with 1,451 receiving yards on tight throws in that span, and his 82 receptions on such throws are tied for the second-most behind retired receiver DeVante Parker's 88, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
As it turns out, Williams' new quarterback is pretty good at throwing into tight windows. Since NFL Next Gen Stats began tracking in 2016, Wilson's 48 passing touchdowns on tight-window throws are tied with Aaron Rodgers for the most in the league in that span. In two games with the Steelers, Wilson completed 4-of-11 tight-window attempts for 112 yards and a touchdown to George Pickens. During that two-week stretch, Wilson's 112 yards on tight-window throws led all quarterbacks.
And though Williams was among the least productive receivers in the league during his short stint in New York -- 77th in yards per route (.80) and 84th in target percentage (10%) -- he still averaged 13.8 yards per reception, good for 30th among 86 receivers who've run at least 150 routes this season. Williams' yards per reception ranks fourth on the Steelers behind Calvin Austin III (18.4), Pickens (15.7) and Scotty Miller (15.5), though Miller has just two receptions this season.
Because of those factors, this trade is less an indictment of the performance from the Steelers' existing wide receivers, and more of an opportunity to round out the group by adding a receiver with a different style and body type without giving up premium draft capital or being tied to a long-term commitment. Williams, who had a free agent visit scheduled with the Steelers prior to signing with the Jets over the summer, is slated to be a free agent after the season. As part of the deal, the Steelers agreed to take on the rest of Williams' 2024 salary, but that figure is only $627,500 because most of his one-year, $10 million deal was paid up front by the Jets in a signing bonus.
Adding Williams doesn't have the same impact on the offense as landing a player like Brandon Aiyuk or Davante Adams, both of whom the Steelers pursued, but Wilson's ability to spread the ball around in his two starts reduced the need for adding a top-tier receiver.
Though Pickens is the only Steelers receiver with at least 300 receiving yards, Austin and Van Jefferson scored touchdowns in wins against the Jets and Giants. Each player also recorded a 36-yard catch in that two-game span.
"We're all competitors, we're going to always bank on us regardless," Austin said after scoring two touchdowns against the Jets. "So we always knew what we were capable of inside our receiver room. ... Ever since OTAs, it's always been, block out the outside noise and do what we do because in moments like this there ain't a lot of talk."
Tomlin, too, was complimentary of his wide receiver depth prior to trading for Williams on Tuesday.
"When called upon, they're capable of delivering," he said. "And I just think with each passing week ... there'll be more opportunities to display that, particularly as people work schematically to minimize George, it creates one-on-one [opportunities] for others."
Williams now has a chance to be the latest beneficiary of those opportunities, and if he can return to the form he reached with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he had two 1,000-yard seasons and led the league averaging 20.4 yards per reception in 2019, he could create opportunities for Pickens, too.
Information from ESPN Research was used in this story.
When Steve Ballmer bought the franchise he said he was willing to spend whatever it takes to win But now he s trying to build a team mindful of the second apron
Andr Onana has insisted that Manchester United s squad can adapt to incoming boss R ben Amorim s tactical demands once the new head coach starts his job
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Agbaji will make his fourth start this season","Raptors' Ochai Agbaji: Solid production versus Minnesota? Agbaji had 19 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 0-1 FT), two rebounds, two assists \nand two steals over 31 minutes during Saturday's 112-101 loss to","Nuggets 127-125 Raptors (Oct 28, 2024) Box Score? Box score for the Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors NBA game from October \n28, 2024 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.","UCLA Legend's Nightmarish Start To NBA Season Spells Disaster? This former UCLA Bruins star is off to a horrendous start in the 2024-25 \nNBA season, and it could spell disaster for his career.","Three Takeaways from the first few games of Denver Nuggets season? Could Nikola Jokic really challenge for a 4th MVP award this season? The \nnumbers say \"absolutely\"","This Nuggets-Nets trade would mercifully end the Russell Westbrook era early? The Denver Nuggets made the ill-fated decision to bank on Russell Westbrook \nafter a summer of inaction. 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After the Denver Nuggets win over the Brooklyn Nets in overtime on Tuesday, \nDenver's record evened up at 2-2 once again, a small reset on","Nuggets Podcast: Christian Braun\u2019s ascendance, Jamal Murray\u2019s slow start \nand Aaron Gordon\u2019s a sharpshooter?? In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett \nDurando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene two weeks into the","Analyst Warns Nuggets About High Usage With Russell Westbrook? Russell Westbrook's tenure with the Denver Nuggets is still very young but \nso far it's definitely been a mixed bag.","How the Paul George negotiations changed the direction of the Clippers? When Steve Ballmer bought the franchise, he said he was willing to spend \nwhatever it takes to win. But now he's trying to build a team mindful of \nthe second","Steve Ballmer: Clippers 'Were Able to Upgrade Our Team' After Paul George's \nExit? Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George is set to face the Los Angeles Clippers \non Wednesday night for the first time since leaving the team","StatMuse: Anthony Davis is the only player with 10+ steals and 10+ blocks \nthis season. He's also lea\u2026? One of Paul George's concerns while he was still with the Clippers last \nseason was being a \"Glue Guy\" after Batum and Covington were traded.","\"He even have enough footage?\"- NBA fans react as Clippers plan to give \nvideo tribute to Paul George on return? The LA Clippers are preparing to have a video tribute honoring former \nplayer Paul George when he returns on Wednesday for the first time","Had the Clippers kept all three stars, they felt the CBA would've put a \nstranglehold on their abilit\u2026? Had the Clippers kept all three stars, they felt the CBA would've put a \nstranglehold on their ability to add players who could do some of","Clippers Franchise Owner Details Reason for Change of Direction? Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer discusses not re-signing veteran \nsuperstar and the reason for the team's change in direction.","NBA rumors: Steve Ballmer on Paul George leaving Clippers: 'It was the \nright choice for us'? But Ballmer remains convinced the franchise made the right move. \u201cWe were \nable to get three guys who are tough, hard-playing guys,\u201d Ballmer","NBA rumors: Paul George on Clippers brass: They were awesome the whole time \nI was there? \u201cI think it got kind of misconstrued or [the] narrative kind of wasn't \nwritten correctly with the relationship with Lawrence [Frank],","\"We were able to get three guys who are tough, hard-playing guys,\" Ballmer \ntold ESPN of signing Derr\u2026? \u201cWe were able to get three guys who are tough, hard-playing guys,\u201d Ballmer \ntold ESPN of signing Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Nico Batum.","Law Murray: One of Paul George's concerns while he was still with the \nClippers last season was being\u2026? Law Murray: One of Paul George's concerns while he was still with the \nClippers last season was being a \u201cGlue Guy\u201d after Batum and Covington"]
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with a hip flexor strain when the Celtics take on the Golden StateKevin Durant, Phoenix Suns rally from 15 down to beat Miami Heat for sixth
in a row? Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Jusuf Nurkic had 20 points and 18 rebounds,
and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 15-point deficit Wednesday
Phoenix Suns play Miami Heat at Footprint Center in Phoenix: Scenes from
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Durant scores 32 points and Suns rally from 15 down to beat Heat 115-112
for 6th in a row? PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Jusuf Nurkic had 20 points
and 18 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 15-pointJuarez vs. Club Tijuana Prediction, Odds, Liga MX Picks [11/6/2024]? Liga MX action continues on Wednesday at 10:00PM ET as Club Tijuana takes
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its inaugural jersey retirement ceremony for Vince Carter.
Ochai Agbaji is running toward his role? The trade for Ochai Agbaji & Kelly Olynyk was a heavily scrutinized one.
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about the Denver Nuggets' offense and championship window.How the Paul George negotiations changed the direction of the Clippers? When Steve Ballmer bought the franchise, he said he was willing to spend
whatever it takes to win. But now he's trying to build a team mindful of
the second
Had the Clippers kept all three stars, they felt the CBA would've put a
stranglehold on their abilit…? Had the Clippers kept all three stars, they felt the CBA would've put a
stranglehold on their ability to add players who could do some of
"We were able to get three guys who are tough, hard-playing guys," Ballmer
told ESPN of signing Derr…? “We were able to get three guys who are tough, hard-playing guys,” Ballmer
told ESPN of signing Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Nico Batum.