Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan made two big trades prior to the deadline, acquiring wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets for a 2025 fifth-round pick and sending one of their three 2025 seventh-round draft picks to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for edge rusher Preston Smith.
Khan and the Steelers received rave reviews for both moves. Williams bolsters the wide receiver corps that was in desperate need of a No. 2 wideout to take some pressure off George Pickens, while Smith joins an already loaded outside linebacker room with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.
Preston Smith, who ranks 13th in Sacks and 14th in QB Hits since getting to the league, is joining forces with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward 💥 https://t.co/Q5jrrgArcB pic.twitter.com/89IaQyf1cJ
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 5, 2024
Mike Williams on contested targets since 2018:
🔸 94.1 receiving grade (3rd)
🔸 91 receptions (2nd)
🔸 1,495 receiving yards (2nd)Your newest Pittsburgh Steeler 🙌 https://t.co/xPHU0YHCYM pic.twitter.com/Z9RXTJDdf8
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) November 5, 2024
Aaron Rodgers reacts live to the #Jets trading Mike Williams to the #Steelers on the Pat McAfee Show.pic.twitter.com/n1kVGLhgXg https://t.co/La2tKF4Avg
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 5, 2024
Steelers get 2x 1,000 yard WR Mike Williams for a 5th round pick.
Chiefs get 7x 1,000 yard WR DeAndre Hopkins for a 5th round pick.
Ravens get 1x 1,000 yard WR Diontae Johnson for a 5th Round Pick.
How the hell did the Cowboys give up a 4TH ROUND PICK FOR JOHNATHAN MINGO? pic.twitter.com/oyBJqdhUIn
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 5, 2024
The Russell Wilson, George Pickens, Mike Williams passing game https://t.co/HQ01mfTQcp pic.twitter.com/cEatLoA7Do
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) November 5, 2024
The #Steelers acquire Preston Smith for ONLY a 7th round pick.
Smith is under contract for the next two seasons at $12 and $12.6 million.
68.5 career sacks. 2.5 sacks in 2024.
Sacks by season:
2019 – 12
2020 – 4
2021 – 9
2022 – 8.5
2023 – 8
2024 – 2.5 in 9 games.Good deal pic.twitter.com/r0Vqtsqb5G
— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) November 5, 2024
Preston Smith beat Christian Darrisaw (one of the leagues elite LTs) twice for strip sacks just last season. pic.twitter.com/b9RSn1uEYC
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) November 5, 2024
Preston Smith’s six-year career in Green Bay ends after playing in 91 of a possible 92 games, registering 284 tackles and 47.5 sacks. He’s 11th on the Packers’ all-time sack list and one of Brian Gutekunst’s most unsung pickups.
— Zachary Jacobson (@zacobson) November 5, 2024
Preston Smith since 2021:
🟡 28.0 sacks
⚫️ 158 pressures
🟡 58 run stopsYour newest Pittsburgh Steeler 💪 https://t.co/AwDFJyEm0s pic.twitter.com/lMg36g1toh
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) November 5, 2024