Steelers land WR Mike Williams in trade with Jets, add edge Preston Smith in swap with Packers

Smith, 31, has two seasons and $24.6 million in base salary left on his current contract. He’s struggled a bit this year, garnering 2.5 sacks and a 61.8 overall PFF grade in nine starts for the Packers. Now he’ll join T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on the edges for the Steelers. Though Nick Herbig has been injured, he’s likely to return soon to Pittsburgh’s front seven, boding very badly for opposing quarterbacks going forward.

Williams, 30, became the odd man out in New York’s WR corps after the Jets traded for Davante Adams, while the Steelers have long sought help at the position, notably losing out on attempts to trade for San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk in the offseason. The two parties got together before Tuesday’s trade deadline in a move that should benefit both squads.

Released this spring by the Los Angeles Chargers after seven seasons with the club, Williams signed a one-year, $15 million pact with the Jets ($5 million guaranteed). However, Williams was coming off a torn ACL and was used sparingly to start the 2024 campaign. Once Adams was added to a receiver room that already included Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard, Williams became expendable — even with Lazard dealing with an injury.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Williams is a big body known for making big plays, but has recorded just 12 catches for 166 yards in nine games (three starts) for the Jets with no touchdowns in his brief stay.

In Pittsburgh, he should find plenty more opportunities and give quarterback Russell Wilson another proven option opposite WR1 George Pickens.

With the Jets clinging to playoff hopes at 3-6, this does little to diminish their underdog chances going forward and gives them a return on a Williams signing that didn’t pan out.

The Steelers on the other hand sit atop the AFC North at 6-2 and have finally addressed a glaring need that’s been apparent since the preseason.

Rookie Roman Wilson (hamstring) is on injured reserve and has yet to play a snap. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III have made larger contributions in recent weeks, but Williams is a big upgrade.

For weeks, Williams has seemingly been on the block, and for the duration of the season, the Steelers have been looking to add talent at receiver. It all came together on deadline day.