The Pittsburgh Steelers have strengthened their wide receiver lineup by acquiring Mike Williams from the New York Jets.
Undoubtedly, it’s a big shake-up for both teams, especially for Williams, who’s had a rocky ride with the Jets.
The Steelers sent over a fifth-round pick for the 2025 draft to seal the deal, so they’re clearly betting on his talent to pay off down the line.
With this trade, Pittsburgh gains a new weapon for their quarterback to throw to, and it could be exactly what the team and Williams need right now.
Let’s find out why this trade happened.
Mike Williams came to the Jets on a one-year deal during the offseason, but his time there didn’t go quite as planned.
Williams tore his ACL back in 2023 while still playing for the Los Angeles Chargers, and the recovery kept him off the field for much of the following season.
So, when the Jets picked him up, there was a bit of a gamble on whether he’d bounce back.
In his first nine games, Williams made 12 catches for a total of 166 yards.
Sure, it’s not bad, but it’s not exactly the standout season he’d hoped for.
The real drama kicked off in Week Six during a game against the Bills.
The Jets were down, needing a win, and then came a big moment: Aaron Rodgers threw a pass, and Williams, as it turned out, ran the wrong route.
It led to an interception that sealed the game for the Bills, and let’s just say Rodgers wasn’t too thrilled.
He openly mentioned that Williams hadn’t followed the play as expected.
It’s not the best way to win the QB’s trust, especially with Rodgers’ reputation for being extremely particular about how his receivers run routes.
Nonetheless, Williams’ struggles in New York weren’t all about that one play.
When the Jets traded for star receiver Davante Adams in October, Williams’ spot on the roster became even more uncertain.
Adams, a top-tier player with an established record, meant the Jets’ lineup was stacked with competition.
Even though multiple teams showed interest in Williams once Adams arrived, the Steelers pulled the trigger and closed the deal.
Rodgers even mentioned Williams’ departure on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he had some supportive words for his now-former teammate.
“Mike is a good guy. He’ll be good in that locker room… He’s had a nice career. Sometimes a change of scenery is great for certain guys,” Rodgers shared, showing there were no hard feelings.
Rodgers added that with Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams on the field, Williams was bound to see fewer passes his way.
He wrapped up by saying he hopes Williams has more opportunities in Pittsburgh, a fresh start that could work wonders for the receiver.
Reflecting on his time with the Jets, Williams opened up during his first practice with the Steelers.
He explained that his injury recovery didn’t give him the chance to participate in offseason practices, meaning he missed valuable time for building rapport with Rodgers.
“Going there after the ACL, not having OTAs or training camp to get the chemistry right… [Rodgers] is real detailed. He likes what he likes. Me not being able to transition in as quick is probably what went wrong,” Williams told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In his brief Jets stint, Williams played in all nine games, starting in three of them.
He had 12 receptions out of 21 targets and notched 166 yards—good numbers, but not enough to cement his place among the Jets’ top receivers.
The Jets were dealing with a loaded wide receiver room, too, especially with Adams and Wilson leading the way.
Allen Lazard was also in the lineup until a chest injury took him out, which landed him on injured reserve just before Week Nine.
That week, during a Thursday Night Football game, Williams played 41 snaps but had only one catch for six yards.
With Wilson and Adams on the field for the majority of snaps, it became clear that Williams’ role was shrinking.
Williams’ journey started with the Chargers, where he enjoyed several solid seasons.
He was drafted seventh overall back in 2017, and in seven years with the Chargers, he racked up 309 catches, 4,806 yards, and 31 touchdowns.
His best season came in 2021 when he rushed for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns—numbers the Steelers would love to see him replicate.
He’s known for his ability to make difficult catches and has a big catch radius, which makes him a prime target for deep passes.
At 6-foot-4, he’s a big guy who can outmaneuver defenders, so he’s a reliable option when things get tight downfield.
With the Steelers, Williams steps into a different kind of opportunity.
He’ll be playing alongside George Pickens, the Steelers’ standout receiver, and could be a solid No. 2 option.
Russell Wilson, the Steelers’ quarterback, has a reputation for throwing a receiver-friendly deep ball, which could complement Williams’ skill set.
So, this trade might be just what Williams needs to get back into his groove.
With more consistent targets, he has the chance to become a valuable part of Pittsburgh’s offense and hopefully reignite his career.
Williams shared his excitement for the move, telling reporters, “I want to make plays. I’m going to work and show I deserve to be on the field.”
He didn’t get the chance to do that consistently with the Jets, but now, he’s motivated to prove he’s still a playmaker.
Steelers fans will be eager to see if he can return to his 2021 form when he showcases his full potential.
Williams may not have made the impact he hoped in his nine games with the Jets, but now he has a fresh start in Pittsburgh.
With fewer star receivers ahead of him on the Steelers’ roster, he’ll likely have more chances to show off the skills that made him a top draft pick and a successful Charger.
If he finds his rhythm, Williams could become an essential part of the Steelers’ game plan and potentially return to being the kind of receiver who can pull off big plays when it matters most.
For now, all eyes are on Williams as he settles into his new team and embraces the opportunity for a career resurgence with the Steelers.