It was only a matter of time before the New York Jets decided to part ways with wide receiver Mike Williams. That time came on Tuesday, the NFL trade deadline day, as the Jets traded Williams to the receiver-needy Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round draft pick. Williams had joined the Jets as a free agent during the offseason, working hard to recover from a knee injury that had hampered his previous season.
Despite his efforts to contribute to the team, Williams became expendable the moment the Jets acquired star receiver Davante Adams in a blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Raiders last month.
Adams, who is a close friend and a preferred target of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, immediately took on a key role within the offense, pushing Williams further down the depth chart. It was no surprise, then, that Williams’ snap counts began to diminish significantly in recent weeks as Adams solidified his place in the offense.
The Steelers, who had been actively searching for wide receiver help for the past few months, saw an opportunity to bolster their receiving corps with Williams.
Pittsburgh had been linked to other receivers, including San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk, who unfortunately suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Jacksonville’s Christian Kirk, who is also out for the season with a broken collarbone. With their options dwindling, the Steelers turned their attention to Williams.
The Steelers had the chance to get an up-close look at Williams two weeks ago when they faced off against the Jets in Pittsburgh. Impressed by his performance and potential, the Steelers reportedly reached out to the Jets shortly after the game to inquire about Williams.
However, the deal wasn’t finalized until the trade deadline on Tuesday.
According to ESPN, the Steelers will take on the remainder of Williams’ contract for the 2024 season, with Williams set to become a free agent at the end of the year. While Williams’ tenure with the Jets wasn’t exactly a standout one, he showed glimpses of his ability to be a deep threat.
In nine games with the Jets, the 30-year-old veteran caught just 12 passes but averaged an impressive 13.8 yards per reception.
RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Poses With ‘Fountain of Youth’ Elixir After Jets’ Victory
One of the low points for Williams with the Jets came during their matchup against the Buffalo Bills last month.
During that game, Aaron Rodgers threw a late pass intended for Williams that was intercepted by Buffalo’s defense. After the game, Rodgers did not hold back in his criticism, suggesting that Williams had run a poor route on the play.
“It was two verticals,” Rodgers said when asked about the interception. “Allen [Lazard] is down the seam, Mike’s down the red line. So, I’m looking at Allen, he puts his hand up, three guys go with him. So, I’m throwing a no-look to the red line. And when I just peek my eyes back there, [Williams] is running an in-breaker. So, um, it’s gotta be down the red line.”
Williams never publicly responded to Rodgers’ critique, but the incident seemed to mark the beginning of the end for his time with the Jets.
Despite the criticism, Rodgers spoke warmly about Williams during his regular appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. He praised Williams for his perseverance in coming back from injury.
“Mike had a rough injury last year, that ACL, and it’s tough to come back from,” Rodgers said. “He worked his ass off all offseason. That’s a tough injury. I had that injury, and it’s the mental part that takes the longest. We kind of knew with Davante coming in that there would be fewer targets for everyone. If this gives Mike more opportunities, that’s awesome.”
The Jets will now move forward with Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams, Xavier Gipson, and rookie Malachi Corley as their primary wide receivers. Allen Lazard, another favorite target of Rodgers, is currently on injured reserve with a chest injury but hopes to return later this season.
Williams, meanwhile, will join the Steelers and link up with quarterback Russell Wilson, adding to a receiving corps that includes George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, and Van Jefferson. The Steelers hope that Williams can provide them with much-needed depth and a vertical threat as they continue their push for a playoff spot.
The trade represents a fresh start for Williams, who will now have the opportunity to contribute to a team in need of his skill set.
While his time with the Jets may not have gone as planned, a new environment in Pittsburgh could be just what he needs to get his career back on track.
Leave a Reply