Report: Steelers Are in the Running for Jets WR Mike Williams
The Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are among a number of teams reaching out to the New York Jets about wide receiver Mike Williams, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Williams did not practice due to personal reasons one day after the Jets made a blockuster trade for wide receiver Davante Adams. It was also previously reported that Williams was on the trade block.
The Steelers play the Jets on Sunday night, so it will be interesting to see if Williams is active for the game if a deal is not made by then. It sure seems like Williams has played his last down as a Jet.
Williams, 30, signed a one-year deal with the Jets this offseason and had played in all six games with New York so far, operating as the third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.
With the Jets now trading for Adams, Williams will far farther down the pecking order, and New York general manger Joe Douglas is looking to move on from the vet.
Williams was one of the few wide receivers that the Steelers showed serious interest during the free agent process. They had a free agent visit scheduled with Williams in March, but he signed with the Jets before ever coming to Pittsburgh.
RELATED: NY Jets Sign WR Mike Williams Before Steelers Visit
Before this season, Williams had spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Chargers, who drafted him at No. 7 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound receiver has been one of the top deep-ball threats in the NFL in his six pro seasons, but injuries have slowed his production in the last few years.
In six games with the Jets, Williams caught 10 of 17 targets for 145 yards. Last season in L.A., he was limited to three games by an ACL injury, catching 19 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown. The Chargers released him last offseason in order to get salary cap compliant.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has missed out on Davante Adams and San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk. While Williams is not the same stratosphere as Adams and Aiyuk, he certainly would bolster the Steelers wide receiver corps that’s in desperate need of No. 2 WR.
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