The Pittsburgh Steelers proved to be one of the more active teams on Tuesday’s trade deadline, acquiring wide receiver Mike Williams and Defensive End Preston Smith, both of whom should immediately slot into Pittsburgh’s lineup. The moves indicate that the Steelers have their eye on a playoff push. And why wouldn’t they as the current leader in the AFC North with a 6-2 record?
Mike Williams
Pittsburgh started off the day by striking a deal with the New York Jets for Mike Williams, whom they had been linked with for several weeks. It was no secret that the Jets wanted to move off of Williams after they traded for Davante Adams back in mid-October. Pittsburgh gave up a 2025 fifth-round pick in order to secure the move.
Williams’ 2024 stats have been lackluster thus far, having only 12 receptions for 166 yards and no touchdowns. However, Williams was frequently underutilized in a Jets’ offense that has often had major competition for touches this season. Williams was a 1,000-yard receiver as recently as 2021, back when he was with the Chargers. Now that Williams is in the Steel City, he should immediately take the place as the de facto number two receiver behind George Pickens, offering a greater upside than the likes of Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson.
The Steelers have been eyeing a trade for a wide receiver ever since the preseason when they were involved in the long-lasting Brandon Aiyuk saga that ultimately ended with Aiyuk staying put in San Francisco. More recently, Pittsburgh was linked to Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp, although it would have taken a significantly higher price tag to pull either of those guys.
Preston Smith
The Preston Smith trade comes as a bit of a surprise seeing how the Packers are not in a position to be sellers. Nevertheless, the move further solidifies Pittsburgh’s pass-rushing depth. Smith has 19 total tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2024. He also has 68.5 sacks over his 10-year career and has had as many as 12 sacks in a single season before.
The Steelers only had to surrender a seventh-round pick to acquire Smith, although it is currently unclear whether they gave up their own pick or the one that they had previously gotten in the trade that sent Kenny Pickett to the Eagles back in March. The trade only adds more talent to Pittsburgh’s already elite defense.
Both moves are signs that the Steelers feel as if they can contend this season with Russell Wilson at the helm. The Steelers are not a team that has traditionally made splashy moves at the trade deadline, and while neither of these trades will move mountains, it at least proves to be a vote of confidence that the front office has some degree of belief in the squad’s ability to be playing meaningful games in January. Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game in seven years, losing five consecutive times in the postseason during that time span. The current playoff win drought is the Steelers’ longest in the Super Bowl era.
For More Sports Content
Follow me on X at @genz_sportz
