Steelers Land WR Upgrade With Former No. 7 Overall Pick: Report

The Pittsburgh Steelers have found their WR2. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on November 5 the Steelers acquired veteran wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the Steelers sent a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Jets in the trade.

“Pittsburgh sends a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Jets for Mike Williams, who became expendable once they acquired Davante Adams and now lands in a good situation with the Steelers,” wrote Pelissero on X (formerly Twitter).

Williams began his NFL career as the No. 7 overall pick out of Clemson for the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2017 draft. In seven seasons with the Chargers, Williams posted 309 catches, 4,806 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns in 88 games.

During those seven seasons, Williams eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark twice. In 2019, he led the NFL with a 20.4 yards per catch average.

This season, Williams registered 12 catches for 166 yards in nine games with the Jets. But he played on just 53% of the team’s offensive snaps.

Williams hasn’t finished a season playing fewer than 60% of his team’s offensive snaps since his rookie campaign.

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Steelers Acquire WR Mike Williams

The trade for Williams ends a months-long receiver search for the Steelers. It’s fitting the search concluded with the acquisition of Williams.

The Steelers scheduled a meeting with Williams early in NFL free agency last March. Had the team been able to sign him, the Steelers would have had their Diontae Johnson replacement roughly a week after they traded him to the Carolina Panthers.

But instead, Williams signed with the Jets prior to his scheduled meeting in Pittsburgh. He agreed to a 1-year contract worth up to $10 million to join New York.

Then, the Steelers went through months of receiver speculation that connected them to more than 10 different veteran wideouts. During that time, they nearly traded for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Ironically, the Steelers turned back to Williams, who will now finish the deal the Jets offered him in Pittsburgh.

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How Williams Will Fit in Steelers Offense

The Steelers have been getting more production from their receivers the last couple weeks. But once acclimated to Pittsburgh, Williams should still slide into the Steelers offense as the No. 2 receiver.

If so, Williams will start opposite George Pickens. That will give the Steelers two receivers who have led the NFL in yards per catch this decade.

“George Pickens: 16.6 yards per catch over his career. Mike Williams: 15.5 yards per catch over his career,” wrote The Score’s Daniel Valente on X.

“If Williams is able to do more than what he’s shown with the Jets, Russell Wilson will be very happy.”

Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson took to social media to express his excitement about Williams heading to Pittsburgh.

“Finally got me one!! Yes sir!!! Welcome,” wrote Patterson on X.

As Pelissero detailed, Williams began to see his role in the Jets offense decline after the team acquired Davante Adams. Williams played only 33% of New York’s offensive snaps in Adams’ Jets debut.

But Williams did play more the past two games, his final two in New York. He tied a season high with 71% of the Jets offensive snaps played in Week 9.

With Williams in the fold, Steelers’ Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson will likely primarily play slot receiver roles the rest of the season. Austin and Jefferson each have at least one touchdown the past two games.

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