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Free agent wide receiver Mike Williams was scheduled to meet with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that visit will not occur now.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on March 19 that Williams agreed to a 1-year deal with the New York Jets. The contract is worth up to $15 million.
Williams is joining the Jets just one day after Schefter reported the receiver was going to visit the Steelers this week. Williams visited New York first and now won’t meet with either the Steelers or the Carolina Panthers.
“No Steelers visit now,” quote tweeted The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac.
The Steelers have a big need at wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers on March 12. George Pickens is the only receiver on Pittsburgh’s current roster who had at least 210 receiving yards in 2023.
WR Mike Williams Signs With New York Jets
Williams only played three games with the Los Angeles Chargers last season because of a left ACL injury. But on March 19, he was one of the better receivers left in free agency.
The Chargers released Williams this offseason because his cap hit jumped to $32.5 million. He was also set to make a non-guaranteed $17 million base salary in the last year of the contract he signed with the Chargers.
In addition to the Steelers and Panthers, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported that the Chargers showed an interest in bringing back Williams on a reduced salary. But Williams is joining Aaron Rodgers and the Jets.
In seven seasons with the Chargers, Williams posted 309 catches for 4,806 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns. He also averaged 15.6 yards per reception.
Over his seven seasons with the Chargers, Williams registered a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns. He led the NFL with a 20.4 yards per catch average in 2019.
Williams had 19 catches, 249 receiving yards and 1 touchdown in three games prior to his injury in 2023.
The Chargers drafted Williams at No. 7 overall in the 2017 NFL draft.
Steelers Will Need to Turn Elsewhere to Sign WR
With Williams unavailable, the Steelers will now need to find a different No. 2 wide receiver. The team’s options are dwindling.
The Steelers and veteran Tyler Boyd expressed a mutual interest in each other during the first week of free agency. However, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly tweeted on March 18 that the Steelers are “not 100%” bought into the idea of signing Boyd.
Perhaps that will change, though, now that Williams is not available.
But the Steelers could also have their eyes on potential trade candidates. 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi reported on March 19 that the Steelers have shown interest in acquiring San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
That was a day after The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac said while appearing on an episode of “The Rich Eisen Show” that the Steelers could be looking for a “bigger catch” at wideout.
Until the Steelers add a receiver in free agency, though, they will also likely be connected to wideouts in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. On March 19, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected the Steelers to select LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 20 overall.
Based on 2023 production, Van Jefferson is currently the No. 2 wide receiver on Pittsburgh’s roster. He had 20 catches for 209 receiving yards last season.
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